Rashaad
A boy's name of Arabic origin with 3,395 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Rashaad sits in the still in active use zone of American naming: first recorded in 1974, peaking in 1995, with 3,395 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Rashaad ranks #3492 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Rashaad is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, a variant spelling of Rashad, from the Arabic rāshid or rashad meaning 'rightly guided,' 'following the right path,' or 'integrity.'
Rashaad has been widely used in African American communities since the 1970s, often associated with jazz musician Rashaan Roland Kirk and basketball player Rashad McCants. The doubled-A spelling gives it a distinctive visual identity while keeping its Arabic heritage meaning of righteous guidance.
EtymologyShow more
Rashaad appeared in SSA records in 1974, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Arabic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Rashaad’s 3,395 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Rashaad was #1757 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3492, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 165 | #3504 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 496 | #2651 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 777 | #1739 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 1,095 | #1110 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 701 | #1217 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 161 | #2475 | — |
The Story of Rashaad
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1995, Rashaad is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Rashaad are most likely born between 1985 and 2005.
How rare is Rashaad?
Only about 1 in every 109,091 babies born in 2024 was named Rashaad — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1974, peaked in the 1990s with 1,095 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Rashaad by the numbers
- Would fill 71 school buses
- Meeting one Rashaad per day would take 9.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(51 years, 1974–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33 | #3492 |
| 2023 | 28 | #3969 |
| 2022 | 35 | #3393 |
| 2021 | 33 | #3476 |
| 2020 | 36 | #3188 |
| 2019 | 37 | #3178 |
| 2018 | 40 | #2983 |
| 2017 | 45 | #2749 |
| 2016 | 38 | #3102 |
| 2015 | 39 | #3013 |
| 2014 | 54 | #2396 |
| 2013 | 37 | #3042 |
| 2012 | 68 | #2042 |
| 2011 | 73 | #1918 |
| 2010 | 65 | #2089 |
| 2009 | 83 | #1806 |
| 2008 | 73 | #1962 |
| 2007 | 81 | #1808 |
| 2006 | 76 | #1820 |
| 2005 | 52 | #2289 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1974–2024