Reg
A boy's name of Germanic origin with 209 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the male given name Reginald.
Reg is a boy's baby name of Germanic origin, a diminutive of Reginald — from the Old German Reginald, composed of ragin (advice, counsel) and wald (ruler), meaning 'wise ruler' or 'powerful counsel.'
Reg has the unpretentious, friendly quality of a British nickname-name elevated to official given-name status. In Britain and Australia, Reg carries the warm, working-class associations of a name used by generations of men who valued directness over grandeur. Its single syllable is perfectly efficient.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Reg is a boy's name with several decades of recorded use (1936–1979). Its Germanic roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
With 209 total births, Reg exists at the edges of the American naming landscape — a name known primarily to the families who carry it, giving it an intensely personal character.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Reg has 26+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1936.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 49 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 66 | — |
| 1940s | 73 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 16 | — |
The Story of Reg
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1958, Reg is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Reg are most likely born between 1948 and 1968.
How rare is Reg?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Reg is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1936, peaked in the 1940s with 73 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Reg by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1936–1979)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 5 | #6844 |
| 1968 | 7 | #3609 |
| 1966 | 6 | #3846 |
| 1965 | 6 | #3842 |
| 1964 | 7 | #3535 |
| 1962 | 7 | #3565 |
| 1961 | 6 | #3971 |
| 1960 | 10 | #2829 |
| 1959 | 11 | #2633 |
| 1958 | 16 | #2079 |
| 1957 | 10 | #2784 |
| 1956 | 8 | #3147 |
| 1955 | 5 | #4278 |
| 1953 | 8 | #3091 |
| 1952 | 8 | #3052 |
| 1949 | 6 | #3622 |
| 1948 | 12 | #2298 |
| 1947 | 10 | #2638 |
| 1946 | 11 | #2373 |
| 1944 | 6 | #3368 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1936–1979