Rainbow
A gender-neutral name symbolizing the colorful spectrum of arched light.
Name Census estimates that about 565 living Americans carry the first name Rainbow. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rainbow today is around 27 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rainbow births was 1980 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rainbow. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
565
~ 1 in 606,645 Americans
Peak year
1980
28 babies that year
Average age
27
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,392
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Rainbow: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rainbow from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 151 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Rainbow remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rainbow by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rainbow during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rainbows live
Origin
Meaning and history of Rainbow
The given name Rainbow is a relatively modern name that emerged in the 20th century. It is an English word that refers to the multi-colored arc of light that appears in the sky after a rainstorm. The name reflects a growing trend in the 20th century of naming children after natural phenomena or concepts that evoke positive associations.
The earliest known usage of the name Rainbow can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, a time period marked by social movements and a counterculture that embraced themes of peace, love, and harmony with nature. The name gained popularity during this era, particularly among those drawn to its vibrant imagery and symbolic associations with hope, diversity, and the beauty of the natural world.
One of the first notable individuals named Rainbow was Rainbow Willard, an American singer and songwriter born in 1966. She rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of the folk-rock duo, Rainbow & Princess. Another early bearer of the name was Rainbow Sun Franks, an American actress born in 1979, who starred in several independent films and television shows.
In literature, the name Rainbow appears in Toni Morrison's acclaimed novel "Song of Solomon," published in 1977. In the novel, the character Rainbow Dead is a symbol of hope and rebirth, reflecting the symbolic significance often associated with the name.
Other notable figures with the name include Rainbow Rowell, an American author of young adult fiction born in 1973, best known for her works such as "Eleanor & Park" and "Fangirl." Additionally, Rainbow Aubrey, born in 1978, is a British actress and filmmaker who has appeared in various television series and independent films.
While the name Rainbow is not derived from any specific language or culture, it has gained a global presence, transcending geographical boundaries and reflecting a universal appreciation for the natural phenomenon it represents. As a given name, it embodies themes of diversity, hope, and the beauty of the natural world, resonating with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures.
People
Rainbow + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rainbow as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rainbow: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rainbow?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 565 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rainbow going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 606,645 US residents.
Is Rainbow a common name?
We classify Rainbow as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 588 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rainbow most popular?
The single biggest year for Rainbow was 1980, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rainbow is about 27 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rainbow a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rainbow in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.