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At a Glance: Name: Rigel – Meaning: the foot of the giant (referring to its position in the constellation Orion) – Origin: Arabic – Gender: used for both boys and girls
Rigel is an Arabic name meaning "the foot of the giant," a nod to the star's position in the constellation Orion. It's a short, crisp two-syllable name with a sky-gazing story built right in, and it's uncommon enough that your child is unlikely to share it with a classmate.
Meaning & Origin of Rigel
Meaning: The foot of the giant (referring to its position in the constellation Orion).
Origin: Arabic.
Source: Wiktionary.
Popularity of Rigel
Rigel reached its highest U.S. ranking at #3349 in 2016, when 34 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #6095, with 15 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1976–2024.
Make Rigel Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Rigel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Rigel mean?
The foot of the giant (referring to its position in the constellation Orion). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rigel)
Is Rigel a popular name right now?
Rigel peaked at #3349 in 2016 and is ranked #6095 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1976–2024.)
📊 How popular is Rigel? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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