Rage first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rage has been for the last 30 years (from 1994 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rage

Derived from an Old Norse word signifying violent and uncontrolled anger.

Popularity of Rage by gender

Based on the last 30 years of data, Rage is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rage.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7 0
2022 8 0
2021 10 0
2020 6 0
2019 7 0
2017 5 0
2016 6 0
2015 9 0
2014 5 0
2013 7 0
2012 6 0
2010 8 0
2009 5 0
2008 9 0
2007 8 0
2006 5 0
2004 5 0
1994 7 0

The history of the first name Rage

The name Rage is derived from the Old English word "rage," which means "madness," "fury," or "violent anger." It has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "regan," meaning "to rage" or "to be furious." The name is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century, in England and other parts of the British Isles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rage can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals that chronicled the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The Chronicle mentions a warrior named Rage who fought in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 against the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name Rage appears in the Domesday Book, a great survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book lists a landowner named Rage who held lands in the county of Berkshire.

During the Renaissance period, the name Rage was associated with literary and artistic works that explored themes of passion, anger, and human emotions. One notable example is the character Rage in Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene," published in 1590, which personified the concept of rage and fury.

In the 17th century, a famous English playwright named Rage Dyer (1586-1647) gained recognition for his satirical plays that often criticized the social and political issues of his time. His most well-known work is "The Widow's Tears," a tragicomedy published in 1623.

Another notable figure with the name Rage was Rage Merton (1688-1758), an English philosopher and theologian who wrote extensively on the nature of human emotions and the role of reason in controlling them. His book "The Passions of the Mind" (1742) explored the concept of rage and its impact on human behavior.

Throughout history, the name Rage has been associated with themes of passion, intensity, and fierce emotions, reflecting its origins in the Old English word for "madness" and "fury." While not a common name today, it has left a lasting impact in literature, philosophy, and the exploration of human emotions.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rage was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rage, please contact us.

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"Rage first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 5, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rage-meaning-and-history/.

"Rage first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rage-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 5 May, 2025

Rage first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rage-meaning-and-history/.

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