Baby Name of the Day: Ridge

The baby name Ridge blends a rugged, outdoorsy energy with surname style.

Thanks to Kelly for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME RIDGE MEAN?

Time for a science lesson. We might think of them as hills or even mountains, but a ridge is a specific type of geological feature. Typically found at the top of a mountain, the word refers to a long stretch of high land.

The fun part? The term comes from an Old English word meaning back, as in a man’s back, or an animal’s back: hrycg.

It also refers to a bony part of our skulls, starting right above our eyebrows. Today, the word can describe almost anything long and narrow.

SURNAME NAME

Ridge became a surname name for anyone who lived near such a geographical feature, and while it’s not common, there have been a few notable bearers.

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge went on to serve in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Nineteenth century novelist John Rollin Ridge is considered the first Native American novelist. A member of the Cherokee Nation, he spent much of his adult life in California working as a newspaper editor. 1854’s The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta was his only novel. John published it under his tribal name, Yellow Bird.

A minor Marvel Comics character answers to the name, too.

SOAP OPERA NAME

It’s easy to imagine this name on a soap opera, along with Stone and Cliff. Sure enough, Ridge Forrester was part of the original cast of The Bold and the Beautiful when it debuted in 1987. Twenty-five years later, the character is still at the heart of the series. He’s currently married to the love of his life, Brooke – how’s that for nature name overload?

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS

This name appears on plenty of maps, but perhaps the best known in the US is the Blue Ridge Mountains. Part of the Appalachians, and home to the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks, the Mountains are widely known. 

The Blue Ridge Parkway winds through North Carolina and Virgina.

The mountains are mentioned in John Denver’s hit, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” as well as songs by the Grateful Dead, the Carter Family, and at least a dozen others. Clemson University’s alma mater kicks off with a reference to them, since the university sits at the foot of the mountains.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME RIDGE?

When it comes to popularity, the baby name Ridge appears in small numbers as early as 1948. Eleven boys received the name that year. 

But Ridge jumped in use when the soap opera character was introduced. In fact, Ridge briefly entered the Top 1000 most popular names in the United States in 1988, just a year after the character was introduced.

But it didn’t last. 

Instead, Ridge returned to the US Top 1000 in 2015, boosted by a mix of trends:

• Brief and brisk, the name sounds like current favorites Jack, Jude, and Luke across English-speaking countries. 
• We’re all about nature names, from gender-neutral River, Rowan, and Sage to more masculine picks like Rocky or Heath. 
• The mountains make it an Americana name, a cousin to Bridger.

The baby name Ridge ranked #528 in 2024, down slightly from #505 in 2023, but still near an all-time popularity high.

RUGGED RIDGE 

There’s an outdoorsy, rugged energy to Ridge. It’s the perfect name if you love long hikes and nights by the campfire.

But because this given name started out as a surname, it has a lot of polish, too. And Ridge blends a distinctive sound with a straightforward spelling – an easy-to-wear combination.

What do you think of the baby name Ridge?

First published on June 21, 2016, this post was revised on November 21, 2025.