Reef

♀ Girl

Pronounced REEF /ˈrif/High

Meaning: From the English word reef — 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea' (from the Dutch rif); a nature/word-name; used for both sexes; we note the wordLow

In 30 seconds: A ridge of coral in the sea: Reef is a word-name. Crisp, modern, and warm. Used for both sexes; we note the word.

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Origin LowEnglish, Dutch

MeaningFrom the English word reef — 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea' (from the Dutch rif); a nature/word-name; used for both sexes; we note the word

U.S. rank (2025)#12896 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 63

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Reef comes from the English word reef — 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea' (from the Dutch rif); a nature/word-name; used for both sexes (we note the word). A crisp, modern name (here for a girl; slug distinguished; said 'REEF').

In the U.S. it appears very recently as a nature-name (also a Hebrew name meaning 'friend'). Rare, a-coral-reef at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Reef is a nature/word-name — 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea' — a crisp, breezy name, used for both sexes (we note the word; said 'REEF').

Overall data confidence 24%

References — Reef — word/nature-name; unisex

Variations

ReifRif

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Reef…

Reed— a fellow nature word-name

Bay— a kin water/nature-name

Coral— a sound-adjacent sea nature-name

Rae— shares Reef's English roots

Rain— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Reef

By themeuncertain english unisex word-name dutch nature-name

By meaningSea / Water Earth / Nature Rock / Stone

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Reef mean?

Reef is a nature/word-name — 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the surface of the sea'; used for both sexes; here for a girl. We note the word.

How do you pronounce Reef?

It's said REEF /ˈrif/ — one syllable.

Is Reef a boy or girl name?

Reef is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Reef?

Reef is a very rare name in the U.S.