Reeve

♀ Girl

Pronounced REEV /ˈriːv/High

Meaning: From the English surname and occupational word reeve, 'a bailiff; a local official or steward.' Carried into first-name use; used here for a girl though it leans boy.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp surname-name: Reeve means 'a bailiff; local official' (said 'REEV'). Often a boy's - we note the lean.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom the English surname and occupational word reeve, 'a bailiff; a local official or steward.' Carried into first-name use; used here for a girl though it leans boy.

U.S. rank (2025)#14549 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 239

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

Reeve comes from the Old English word for a local official or steward, a surname turned given name. As a girl's name it reads crisp and modern; it leans boy, which we note - rare in the U.S. (said 'REEV').

For girls it appears only rarely, against boys' and surname use. Rare, surname-style, and sleek.

Did you know? Reeve is an English surname and old occupational word for 'a bailiff; a local official' - a sleek, one-syllable name used here for a girl, though it leans boy, which we note (said 'REEV').

Overall data confidence 48%

References - Reeve — English surname 'bailiff; official'; cross-sex, boy-leaning

Variations

ReevesReveReave

Nicknames

ReeReevie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Reeve mean?

Reeve is an English surname and old word for 'a bailiff; a local official or steward.'

How do you pronounce Reeve?

It's said REEV /ˈriːv/ - one syllable.

Is Reeve a boy or girl name?

Reeve is used for both, but more often for boys - we note the lean.

How popular is Reeve?

Reeve is rare for girls in the U.S. and more common for boys.