Reid

♀ Girl

Pronounced REED /ˈrid/High

Meaning: From an English/Scottish surname — Old English read, 'red(-haired)', or 'dweller by the reeds'; here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Crisp and surname-cool: Reid is the English 'red-haired' (or 'by the reeds'). Sleek, modern, and unisex.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish

MeaningFrom an English/Scottish surname — Old English read, 'red(-haired)', or 'dweller by the reeds'; here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#4253 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births34 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 992

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

Reid comes from an English and Scottish surname — Old English read, 'red(-haired)', or 'dweller by the reeds' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, modern surname-name, here for girls.

It registers thinly for girls. Rare, red-haired-or-reeds at the root, and sleek.

Did you know? Reid means 'red-haired' (Old English read) — or 'dweller by the reeds'; a sleek, one-syllable surname-name, used for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 68%

Behind the Name — Reid — routes layered

Variations

ReedReadeRead

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Reid…

Reed— a fellow spelling

Reese— a companion crisp surname-name

Blair— another one-syllable unisex name

Sloane— a fellow sleek surname-name

Explore names like Reid

By themeuncertain english unisex surname-name scottish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Reid mean?

Reid is English for 'red-haired' or 'by the reeds'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Reid?

It's said REED /ˈrid/ — a single syllable.

Is Reid a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Reid?

Reid is a rare name for girls in the U.S.