Rhett

♂ Boy

Pronounced RET /rɛt/High

Meaning: Advice, counsel — from Dutch surname de Raedt or Old Norse element rāð (counsel, advice)Medium

In 30 seconds: A dashing one-syllable name of Dutch origin meaning 'counsel,' Rhett is forever associated with Rhett Butler of Gone with the Wind — suave, Southern, and impossible to ignore.

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Origin MediumDutch, Old Norse

MeaningAdvice, counsel — from Dutch surname de Raedt or Old Norse element rāð (counsel, advice)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 18,285

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Rhett is most likely derived from the Dutch surname de Raedt or related forms, with a root meaning 'counsel' or 'advice,' connected to Old Norse rāð. The name was used in South Carolina and the American South as a given name, likely drawing on the Dutch heritage of the region. Margaret Mitchell used it for her iconic fictional hero.

Rhett was a relatively uncommon given name until Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936) and the 1939 film adaptation brought it to broad attention. It has been used periodically in the American South ever since. In the 21st century it experienced a notable revival, entering the U.S. top 200 boys' names, as parents sought short, stylish, literary names.

Did you know? Rhett Butler in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936) is widely considered one of the greatest fictional characters in American literature. His last words to Scarlett — 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn' — are consistently ranked among the most memorable lines in film history.

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Famous Bearers

★Rhett Butler (fictional) (1936)
The iconic protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, played by Clark Gable in the 1939 film.

If you like Rhett…

Cole— one-syllable American surname-name with the same cool, confident brevity

Dean— one-syllable English surname-name with comparable vintage cool

Beau— one-syllable Southern-tinged name with the same dashing, literary associations

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rhett mean?

Rhett likely comes from a Dutch surname meaning 'counsel' or 'advice,' related to Old Norse rāð.

How do you pronounce Rhett?

Rhett is pronounced RET /rɛt/ — one syllable.

Is Rhett a boy or girl name?

Rhett is used primarily as a boys' name.

How popular is Rhett?

Rhett has risen into the U.S. top 200 boys' names in the 21st century, driven by its literary associations and one-syllable appeal.