Rainey

Rainey is a name that can function as a surname and, occasionally, as a given name. In English-speaking contexts it appears across various regions and communities.

As a surname, Rainey has several possible origins. It may be toponymic, from places named Rainey, or it may be an Anglicized form of Gaelic or Welsh names. The given-name usage is comparatively uncommon.

Notable individuals with the surname include Ma Rainey (1886–1939), an American blues singer often regarded as a foundational figure in the genre. Her recording career and stage persona helped shape early 20th-century blues and she is frequently cited as the Mother of the Blues.

The name Rainey appears in fiction and serves as a geographic designation for places and institutions in various countries, reflecting its cross-cultural adoption.