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Reeves

♂ Boy

Pronounced REEV-ehs /ˈriv.ɛs/Low

Meaning: Son of the reeve; from Old English gerefa, a bailiff or steward.Low

In 30 seconds: Reeves means 'son of the reeve', from the Old English gerefa, a bailiff or steward.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningSon of the reeve; from Old English gerefa, a bailiff or steward.
U.S. rank (2024)#2178 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births67 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 920

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419122024

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

History & Origin

The Old English gerefa named a local official, a bailiff or steward, and Reeves grew up as the surname for that officer's family. It has since shifted comfortably into use as a given name in English-speaking places.

The final 's' gives it the clipped, surname-as-first-name sound that many parents now favor. It is carried by Reeves Gabrels (born 1956), an American guitarist who played with The Cure and worked closely with David Bowie.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Reeves is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 55%
Behind the Name - Reeves — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Reeves Gabrels (1956-present)
    American guitarist, songwriter and producer; member of The Cure and longtime collaborator with David Bowie and Tin Machine.

If you like Reeves…

Bailey— another English surname-name rooted in the same world of the bailiff or officer

Frequently Asked

What does the name Reeves mean?

Reeves is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Uncertain tradition.

How do you pronounce Reeves?

It's commonly said REEV-ehs /ˈriv.ɛs/.

Is Reeves a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Reeves is used as a boy name.

How popular is Reeves?

In 2024, Reeves ranked #2178 in the U.S. for boys, with 67 births recorded.