Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Reid
BoyScottish, Old English· “red, red-haired”
- Meaning
- red, red-haired
- Origin
- Scottish, Old English
- Pronunciation
- REED
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #293
- US babies 2025
- 1,150
- Best rank
- #259 (2013)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Reid
Reid is a Scottish and Old English name that means “red, red-haired”.
Reid is a Scottish and northern English surname from the Old English read, meaning red. It began as a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion, and the same root produced the surnames Read, Reade and Reed. As a given name Reid has a clean, understated feel: a single syllable, easy to spell, and unmistakably masculine without being harsh. It fits well in the modern trend for short surname names such as Grant, Blake and Pierce. Reid also works nicely as a middle name, especially after longer, more traditional first names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Reed.
Popularity over time
Reid first appears in US Social Security records in 1886. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 125 different years, starting in 1886. Its best national rank was #259 in 2013, and the most babies received it in 2014, when 1,432 were named Reid. In 2025, 1,150 babies were named Reid, and it ranked #293 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #742 in 1920, #570 in 1950, #596 in 1980, #437 in 2000, #291 in 2010, and #293 in 2025. Of the 40,791 US boys named Reid since records began, 31% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 6,529 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Cash, Kameron, Titus, Gunner, and Zander.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Reid ranked highest in Alaska, New Hampshire, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #105 | 8 |
| New Hampshire | #126 | 12 |
| Louisiana | #135 | 38 |
| Montana | #168 | 8 |
| Minnesota | #181 | 37 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 97% of US babies named Reid over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Reid is usually pronounced REED, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with R and ends in “-id”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Reed.
Middle names for Reid
A few middle names that flow with Reid: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Reid
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Lists that include Reid
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Reid mean?
Reid is a Scottish and Old English name that means “red, red-haired”.
What is the origin of the name Reid?
Reid has Scottish and Old English roots. Reid is a Scottish and northern English surname from the Old English read, meaning red.
Is Reid a popular name?
Yes. Reid ranked #293 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Reid a boy or girl name?
Reid is mainly a boy's name. About 97% of US babies named Reid over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Reid?
Reid is usually pronounced REED. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings