The baby name Raekwon debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1994. It reached peak usage just two years later:
- 1998: 249 baby boys named Raekwon [rank: 683rd]
- 1997: 282 baby boys named Raekwon [rank: 618th]
- 1996: 445 baby boys named Raekwon [rank: 483rd] – peak usage
- 1995: 303 baby boys named Raekwon [rank: 589th]
- 1994: 39 baby boys named Raekwon – debut
- 1993: unlisted
- 1992: unlisted
Quite a few spelling variants (such as Raekwan, Raykwon, Rakwon, Raykwan, Rakwan, Reakwon, Raequan, and Raequon) also popped up in the data in the mid-1990s, as did a number of alternate forms (like Taekwon, Jaekwon, Daekwon, and Drekwon).
What was influencing all these names?
New York City rapper Raekwon (born Corey Woods in 1970).
Raekwon — also known as Raekwon The Chef — was a founding member of the influential East Coast hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan.
The nine-man group released its successful debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in November of 1993.
Almost two years later, in August of 1995, Raekwon released his own debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, which featured every other member of Wu-Tang as well as several non-Wu artists (including Nas).
So how did Raekwon come by his stage name? Here how he explained it:
Q: How did you get the name Raekwon The Chef? Due to your skills in the kitchen or the way you handle beef on the streets?
A: We were definitely out there in the streets but I didn’t get my name because of that. I got the name Raekwon The Chef because at one point I was in the Nation of Islam and I was given a name but only the Raekwon part was suitable for the music so that’s where I got that. In those old karate flicks there was an old dude called The Chef who was nasty and mean. RZA said, “You remind me of this kinda cat, this is what we gon’ call you.” That’s how we came with Raekwon The Chef.
What are your thoughts on the name Raekwon?
P.S. Another Wu-Tang-inspired baby name, Rza, debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 2023…
Sources:
- Raekwon – Wikipedia
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) – Wikipedia
- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… – Wikipedia
- Gichigi, Lawrence. “Raekwon: Bad Boy for Life.” Blues & Soul Magazine 11 Aug. 2014.
- SSA
[Latest update: Jun. 2024]