How Many People Are Named Reed?

Complete statistics for the name Reed: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Reed
Uncommon
Old English

Reed means 'a thick stem of grass' and it's very rare, with only 1 in 10,760 Americans having this name. There are around 30,669 people named Reed living today, and it's a name that's really picking up steam, peaking in popularity in 2014.

~268,584
Living in US
1 in 1,234
Americans
2014
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
A thick stem of grass
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Creative Adventurous
5
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 5 are known for their adaptability and love of freedom.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

31,059
Worldwide Bearers
#31,667
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
30,669
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
34
🇵🇰 Pakistan
34
🇿🇦 South Africa
33
🇳🇬 Nigeria
29
🇳🇿 New Zealand
27
🇧🇷 Brazil
26
🇿🇲 Zambia
20
🇯🇴 Jordan
16
🇮🇱 Israel
15

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
29,782 (97%)
♀ Female
888 (3%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 36
20,533
Would be under 30 (57%)
7,390
Would be 30–60 (20%)
8,268
Would be over 60 (23%)

All 36,191 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 2014

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
37
Modern Appeal
83
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Reed Through the Generations

Reed has seen a steady rise in popularity over the years, especially among younger generations. With 20,533 under 30, it's clear that Reed is a name embraced by modern families. The average age of those named Reed is 36, indicating a relatively young demographic compared to many other names, with a significant portion still in their prime.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 2,770
Texas 2,248
Pennsylvania 1,656
Ohio 1,541
Utah 1,446
Minnesota 1,324
Illinois 1,315
New York 1,209
Michigan 1,073
Florida 1,027

✨ Similar Names to Reed

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Reed's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Reed

How Many People Have the Name Reed?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 268,584 people in the United States currently share the name Reed. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,234 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Reed a Common or Rare Name?

Reed is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Reed Mean?

Reed means "a thick stem of grass" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Reed in SSA data, approximately 97% are male and 3% are female.

When Was Reed Most Popular?

The name Reed reached peak popularity in 2014, with 1,122 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Reed?

Approximately 268,584 people named Reed live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 268,584. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,234 Americans.

Is Reed a rare name?

Reed is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,234 Americans has this name.

What does the name Reed mean?

Reed means "a thick stem of grass" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Reed more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 97% of people named Reed are male and 3% are female.

When was Reed most popular?

Reed peaked in 2014 with 1,122 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US268,584
All-Time Births268,584
1 in X1 in 1,234
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age36
Peak Year2014
World Rank#31,667
Male %97%
Female %3%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.