Reed is a distinctive choice, ranked #2440 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Reed in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#2440
US Rank #419
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About the Name Reed
Reed is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 481 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #1168 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Reed is rare in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Reed in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #421, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Reed
Alyson Reed — Alyson Reed is an American dancer and actress, best known for appearing as Cassie in A Chorus Line and Ms Darbus in the High School Musical trilogy.
Willis Reed — Willis Reed Jr. was an American professional basketball player, coach, and general manager.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Reed
Unlikely. With around 9 UK babies named Reed per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Reed in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Reed is declining: down 364 places since 2020, to #2,440 in 2025. It peaked at #1,168 in 1996.
Reed is more popular in the US (#421) than in the UK (#1595). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Reed include: Alyson Reed, Walter Reed and Robert P. Reed. Short summaries for each appear below.
Reed appears in the US top 500 at #421 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
9
UK babies named Reed (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 364 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Reed
Almost certainly the only Reed in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Reed
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Steve, Steven or Stephen Reed may refer to: Stephen Reed, American newspaper publisher and geologist Steven Reed (political scientist), American political scientist Stephen R.