Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Reign
UnisexEnglish· “royal rule”
- Meaning
- royal rule
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- RAYN
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #452
- US babies 2025
- 682
- Best rank
- #349 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Reign
Reign is an English name that is usually said to mean “royal rule”.
Reign is the English word for the rule of a monarch, from the Old French reigne and ultimately the Latin regnum, kingdom. As a given name it is a recent American choice, used for both boys and girls, and it suggests confidence and authority. It sounds identical to Rain and Rayne, which gives it a soft sound despite its regal meaning. Some families like it as a modern word name alongside choices such as King, Royal and Legacy. Reign is short and bold, and it works best with a longer middle name for balance.
Other spellings with the same sound: Rayne, Rain, Raine, Reine.
Popularity over time
Reign first appears in US Social Security records in 1996. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 10 different years, starting in 2016. Its best national rank was #349 in 2021, the same year it reached its highest count of 891 babies. In 2025, 682 babies were named Reign, and it ranked #452 nationally. That is 194% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #11,548 in 2000, #2,357 in 2010, and #452 in 2025. Of the 7,989 US girls named Reign since records began, 60% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 2,823 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Royal, Armani, Kamari, Remy, and Memphis.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Reign ranked highest in Mississippi, Georgia, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #141 | 18 |
| Georgia | #166 | 61 |
| Louisiana | #202 | 22 |
| Hawaii | #205 | 5 |
| Delaware | #215 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Reign is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 67% of US babies named Reign were girls and 33% were boys.
Reign is usually pronounced RAYN, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-gn”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Rayne, Rain, Raine, and Reine.
Middle names for Reign
A few middle names that flow with Reign: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Reign
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Lists that include Reign
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Reign mean?
Reign is an English name that is usually said to mean “royal rule”.
What is the origin of the name Reign?
Reign has English roots. Reign is the English word for the rule of a monarch, from the Old French reigne and ultimately the Latin regnum, kingdom.
Is Reign a popular name?
Yes. Reign ranked #452 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Reign a boy or girl name?
Reign is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 67% of US babies named Reign were girls and 33% were boys.
How do you pronounce Reign?
Reign is usually pronounced RAYN. 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