An uncommon Old Norse pick — distinctive and rare.
A surname from German.
Reef is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the word meaning 'a ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the water's surface.' As a name, Reef projects a sun-drenched, surf-culture vitality — the kind of name that lives outdoors, near the ocean, in the warm edge where sea meets land.
Reef climbed 937 spots in the last 20 years — from #3521 to #2584.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 320 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 573 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 311 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 30 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 52 | #2584 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2141 |
| 2022 | 61 | #2342 |
| 2021 | 81 | #1898 |
| 2020 | 58 | #2342 |
| 2019 | 71 | #2059 |
| 2018 | 53 | #2465 |
| 2017 | 51 | #2524 |
| 2016 | 57 | #2328 |
| 2015 | 51 | #2476 |
| 2014 | 54 | #2397 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2514 |
| 2012 | 51 | #2476 |
| 2011 | 72 | #1942 |
| 2010 | 64 | #2113 |
| 2009 | 51 | #2512 |
| 2008 | 51 | #2498 |
| 2007 | 39 | #3012 |
| 2006 | 47 | #2565 |
| 2005 | 32 | #3222 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Reef has also been given to 56 girls in the U.S. since 2012.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1996–2024) · Methodology