Raeleigh is a modern American respelling of Raleigh, the English surname and North Carolina capital that means "roe deer clearing" or "deer meadow" in Old English. The Rae- opening also ties it to Raelynn and Rae, and the -leigh ending follows Everleigh and Kayleigh. Raeleigh peaked at number 1551 in 2021 and ranks number 2430 in 2025.