Reed
Boy name · #418 in 2025 · Uniqueness 49/100
Reed ranks #418 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 770 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #330, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,338 boys born in 2025 was named Reed.
Babies named Reed per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Reed first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 1,096 boys were named Reed — good for #318 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Reed against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Reed in class?
Reed scores 49 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Reed is most common
Geography matters for names, and Reed is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Reeds were TX (61), PA (49), CA (40), KY (38), NY (34). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Reed
Statistically, parents drawn to Reed tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reid, Ahmed, Mohamed, Mohammed, and Ryland.
ReidAhmedMohamedMohammedRylandRoccoCreedRylan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Reed | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 770 | #417 |
| 2024 | 747 | #422 |
| 2023 | 725 | #430 |
| 2022 | 777 | #415 |
| 2021 | 740 | #415 |
| 2020 | 661 | #450 |
| 2019 | 777 | #402 |
| 2018 | 855 | #376 |
| 2017 | 862 | #379 |
| 2016 | 962 | #351 |
| 2015 | 1,045 | #330 |
| 2014 | 1,096 | #318 |
| 2013 | 1,032 | #322 |
| 2012 | 817 | #371 |
| 2011 | 809 | #367 |
| 2010 | 759 | #381 |
| 2009 | 687 | #419 |
| 2008 | 726 | #405 |
| 2007 | 617 | #450 |
| 2006 | 568 | #470 |
| 2005 | 530 | #472 |
| 2004 | 514 | #483 |
| 2003 | 478 | #508 |
| 2002 | 468 | #493 |
| 2001 | 501 | #472 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Reed a popular boy name?
Reed ranked #418 among boys in 2025 with 770 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #330.
When was the name Reed most popular?
Reed peaked in 2014, when 1,096 American boys received the name (ranked #318 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Reed?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,338 newborn American boys was named Reed. It scores 49/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.