Reed
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning red-haired or one who lives by reeds.
How Reed has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #331 |
| 2016 | #351 |
| 2017 | #380 |
| 2018 | #377 |
| 2019 | #402 |
| 2020 | #451 |
| 2021 | #415 |
| 2022 | #414 |
| 2023 | #429 |
| 2024 | #421 |
| 2025 | #419 |
Reed by the numbers
In 2025, 9 babies in England and Wales were named Reed. In the US, 872 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given far more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 1,095 babies in 2014, making it a 2010s name.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Reed. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Reidred; ruddy-complexioned1,286 in the US (2017)
- Reefred-haired or one who lives by reeds; a respelling of Reed50 in the US (2017)
- Reesardent, fiery; from rhys20 in the US (2017)
- Raedleader, thunder10 in England and Wales (2025)
- Redred-haired or ruddy complexion10 in the US (2017)
- Reddred; ruddy complexioned3 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean a plant or herb
Like Reed, each of these has a plant or herb in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Brandonbeacon hill or gorse covered hill3,482 in the US (2017)
- Hadleyheather field2,726 in the US (2017)
- Briarthorny shrub, bramble640 in the US (2017)
- Saigewise one; a respelling of Sage508 in the US (2017)
- Rodneyfamous island, clearing with reeds301 in the US (2017)
- Hadleighheather field; spelling variant of Hadley293 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean red
Like Reed, each of these has red in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Rowanlittle red one; the rowan tree1,398 in England and Wales (2025)
- Roryred king1,760 in England and Wales (2025)
- Russellred-haired; russet-colored782 in the US (2017)
- Flynndescendant of Flann the red218 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ridleyred clearing; a place name used as given name145 in the US (2017)
- Carminecrimson red; derived from carminatus125 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Reed
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