Reid

Reid - A very unique male name

Reid appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #939. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Reid and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Reid? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Reid. The baby boy name Reid was given to 1,127 baby boys in 2025, ranking #293 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,301 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Reid peaked in popularity 10 years ago in 2016 on position 257.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Reid, 1-5?

Reid is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Reid is currently topping the baby name charts in Alaska at position #105 - and is the least popular in California at position #515.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Reid is where you live.

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Reid origin and meaning

Scottish and English — transferred surname

From the surname Reid/Read, originally a nickname for a red-haired or ruddy-complexioned man, from Old English read, 'red'

Reid is the Scottish spelling of one of Britain's oldest nicknames-turned-surnames, the 'red' man. As a first name it has been in US data since 1912 and reached its best years in the 2010s, peaking in 2014; it has since climbed back from #316 in 2020 to #293 in 2025. Clean, one syllable, and impossible to shorten further.

Attested etymology

Reid is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Reid, pop culture references for the name Reid and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Reid

We've found the following names that sound similar to Reid, sorted by popularity.

Rudy / Rhett / Reed / Rod / Rowdy / Ryatt / Rohit / Rito / Riot / Roddy /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Reid

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Reid a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Reid?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

REED · /rid/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Reed — The other main spelling, also a plant and surname
• Read — Original surname spelling
• Reade — Elaborated surname spelling

Famous bearers

• Reid Hoffman — American entrepreneur, co-founder of LinkedIn (b. 1967) Contemporary
• Reid Scott — American actor known for Veep (b. 1977) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Reid is a crisp surname name that feels preppy and unfussy, holding steady in the high 200s.

Worth knowing

• Reid vs Reed is a permanent spelling split — neither is 'the' correct one for a first name.