Reef
Boy name · #2505 in 2025 · Uniqueness 76/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Reef scores 76 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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
Geography matters for names, and Reef is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Reefs were FL (20), CA (11), HI (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 76/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.