What Does the Name Reid Mean?
Reid is a boy's name of Scottish/English origin meaning “red-haired; red.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Reid |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Scottish/English |
| Meaning | red-haired; red |
| Variants | Reed, Read, Reade |
| Popularity | A clean surname-name in the U.S. top 300-400 for boys. |
The meaning and origin of Reid
The name Reid means “red-haired; red” and has Scottish/English origins. Reid is a Scottish and English surname from Old English 'read' ('red'), originally a nickname for someone with red hair or a ruddy complexion. It is the Scots spelling variant of Read/Reed.
Variants and related names
Reid is related to several other names you may recognize: Reed, Read, Reade. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Reid?
A clean surname-name in the U.S. top 300-400 for boys.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Reid mean?+
The name Reid means “red-haired; red” and is of Scottish/English origin.
What is the origin of the name Reid?+
Reid originates from Scottish/English.
Is Reid a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Reid has trended in the US over time.
Reid by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press