Raven

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ORIGIN AND HISTORY

The name Raven comes from the name of the bird. As a given name, it may be used for either a boy or a girl, but is more common for girls.^[1] As a surname, it was a nickname given either to people with dark hair, or to people who were "thievish."^[1] People with the surname Raven are likely to be of English or Dutch ancestry.^[1]

Ravens are large, black birds, related to crows. They have a wedge-shaped tail and a ruff of feathers around the throat, called 'hackles,' which are used for social communication.

Ravens are found all over the world: northern Europe, the British Isles, Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, central Asia to the Pacific Ocean, northwestern India, the Iranian region and near east, northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands, and North and Central America. Though they may be found in almost any habitat, Ravens prefer open landscapes like treeless tundra, seacoasts, open riverbanks, rocky cliffs, mountain forests, plains, deserts, and scrubby woodlands.^[1]

POPULARITY

As a girl's name in the United States, Raven first appeared on the top 1000 list in 1977, debuting at an impressive rank of 580. It was most popular in the 1990s, when it leapt from 494 in 1989 to 166 in 1990. Raven peaked at 139 in 1993, and then popularity again began to wane. It is still a relatively popular name, though, appearing at number 441 in 2006.^[1]

As a boy's name, Raven only made the top 1000 chart between the years of 1997 and 2002, with it's highest position being 812 in 1999.^[1]

Raven is also popular in other countries^[1]:

• 432nd - as a girl's name in Canada (BC) (2005)
• 559th - as a boy's name in Canada (BC) (2005)
• 683rd - as a girl's name in Australia (2002)
• 558th - as a boy's name in Australia (2002)
• 2007th - as a boy's name in Belgium (2005)
• 3016th - as a girl's name in Belgium (2002)

FACTS

• Some Native American zodiacs are based on animals that help guide and teach the younger generations. People born between September 23 and October 23 are considered Raven people.
  • "Raven people are fair, energetic, diplomatic, charming and ingenious. They tend to be indecisive because they want everyone to be happy." ^[1]

• Located in IL, Raven's Grin Inn is allegedly haunted by 37 ghosts.^[1] During the 16 years that owner Jim Warfield has lived in this home both he and his visitors have witnessed unsettling supernatural events.^[1]

• Okayama Castle in Japan, built in the 16th century, is also called Ujo, which means Raven Castle.^[1]

• Edgar Allan Poe wrote the poem "The Raven," first published in 1845.

• The Baltimore-Washington Beer Works Brewery produces the product named "The Raven." Production was first in Germany, but after a year operating in the competitive beer market of Europe, production of The Raven began in Baltimore in June of 1998.^[1]

NAMESAKES

Towns in the United States named Raven:

• Raven, Kentucky
• Raven, Virginia
• Ravena, New York
• Ravencliff, West Virginia
• Ravendale, California
• Ravenna, Texas
• Ravenna, Michigan
• Ravenna, Ohio
• Ravenna, Kentucky
• Ravenna, Nebraska
• Ravensdale, Washington
• Ravenswood, West Virginia
• Ravenwood, Missouri

World Cities named Raven:

• Ravenj, Afghanistan
• Ravenna, Ontario, Canada
• Ravenna, Italy
• Ravensburg, Germany
• Ravenscliff, Ontario, Canada
• Ravenshore, Ontario, Canada
• Ravenstein, Germany
• Ravenstein, Netherlands
• Ravensview, Ontario, Canada
• Ravenswood, Ontario, Canada
• Ravensworth, Ontario, Canada
• Ravenswoud, Netherlands^[1]

Television Characters named Raven:

• Raven Baxter That’s So Raven

Film Characters named Raven:

• Raven Darkholme "Mystique" X-Men series^[1]

FAMOUS PERSONS

• Raven Symoné: singer/actress (born December 10, 1985)
• Ravon Chacon: composer (born 1977)
• Raven Hail: writer
• Raven Malone: Miss New York, 1947
• Raven Riley: porn star (born September 6, 1986)
• David Raven: soccer player
• Kenan Raven: actor
• Marion Raven: musician

Celebrity babies named Raven:

• Jonathan Raven, child of Paulina Porizokova and Ric Ocasek

NOTES

Authors: JL Perry and Sarena Emily Levinson