Reef
Boy name · #2505 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Reef? In official American birth records, Reef has been tracked continuously since 1996, giving it 29 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 54 baby boys were named Reef, placing it at #2505 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2457, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,333 boys born in 2025 was named Reef.
Babies named Reef per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 29-year story
Reef first appears in the Social Security records in 1996, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 81 boys were named Reef — good for #1884 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 Reef against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Reef in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Reef is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Reef will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Reef is most common
State-level data for Reef is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Reef
Statistically, parents drawn to Reef tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Tuff, Rye, Rogan, Ryden, and Roen.
TuffRyeRoganRydenRoenWolfRidleyRivers
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Reef | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2024 | 53 | #2527 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2129 |
| 2022 | 62 | #2299 |
| 2021 | 81 | #1884 |
| 2020 | 58 | #2323 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2042 |
| 2018 | 53 | #2445 |
| 2017 | 51 | #2493 |
| 2016 | 57 | #2305 |
| 2015 | 51 | #2457 |
| 2014 | 54 | #2370 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2492 |
| 2012 | 51 | #2448 |
| 2011 | 72 | #1927 |
| 2010 | 64 | #2100 |
| 2009 | 51 | #2486 |
| 2008 | 51 | #2467 |
| 2007 | 39 | #2974 |
| 2006 | 47 | #2542 |
| 2005 | 32 | #3172 |
| 2004 | 27 | #3456 |
| 2003 | 16 | #4815 |
| 2002 | 24 | #3554 |
| 2001 | 14 | #5142 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Reef?
In official American birth records, the name Reef first appeared in 1996 (over 29 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 29 years.
Is Reef a popular boy name?
Reef ranked #2505 among boys in 2025 with 54 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2457.
When was the name Reef most popular?
Reef peaked in 2021, when 81 American boys received the name (ranked #1884 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Reef?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,333 newborn American boys was named Reef. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.