Reid

Updated: October 14, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

The baby name Reid is the Scottish and Irish version of the baby name Reed. Each means red-haired though as the name began as a nickname then became a surname itself for red-haired people in these cultures. Now, it is close to a top 300 name for boys.

Meaning and Origin of the name Reid:

Reid is a boy's name of Gaelic origin meaning “red-haired.”

The spelling of Reid may be the Scottish version of the English surname Reed. Originally, these names were given as a surname for patriarchs in families with red hair. This is because the name Reid was originally just a nickname for red-haired individuals.

Symbolism of the name Reid:

Reid comes from the Old English word “read.” Though this appears like the modern English word spelled the same, in those days, “read” meant “red.” It makes sense then that Reid and Reed were nicknames for red-haired men.

Nicknames for the name Reid:

Reid is a short and sweet name for boys. Unfortunately, you won't find many nicknames for Reid because it's already a short name. You can have fun with this name and create puns for nicknames such as Reidiculous or Reidy or Not. Since Reid means “red-haired,” you can use the nickname Red.

Ree
Rere
Weid
Red
Reidie
Reidy
Reddy
Reidiculous
Reidy or Not
Reider

Style of the name Reid:

Traditional

Gender of the name Reid:

Reid is more commonly used as a boy's name, but it is seen among girls too.

Pronunciation of the name Reid:

REED

Number of syllables in the name Reid:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Reid:

Reid is a simple baby name that has a certain strength attached to it. It feels like a name for someone who would be a hard worker.

Alternative spellings for the name Reid:

Reed
Reide
Reede
Reyde
Reyd

Popularity of the name Reid:

Reid has been on the top 1,000 list since 1901, but only in recent decades has it become popular. From 2010 to 2019, the name was actually a top 300 name. In the year 2020, it did decline back to rank 315.