Reathel
An Old English name meaning "red shield" or "covering of red".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Reathel. It is a predominantly female name (95.5% of registrations). The average person named Reathel today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reathel births was 1921 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reathel. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Reathel is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Reathels were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Reathel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1921
13 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1921 SSA rank
#3,681
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Reathel
Reathel leans heavily female at 95.5% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Reathel as a male name
- Ranked #4,238 in 1921
- 6 male births in 1921
- Peak: 1921 (6 births)
Reathel as a female name
- Ranked #3,681 in 1935
- 7 female births in 1935
- Peak: 1924 (13 births)
Origin
Meaning and history of Reathel
The name Reathel is an intriguing and quite unusual given name with an enigmatic history. Its origins appear to be rooted in the ancient Celtic languages spoken across parts of Europe and the British Isles. Linguists theorize that it may have been derived from a combination of the proto-Celtic roots "reā" meaning "to flow" and "tel" meaning "earth" or "land".
This could suggest that the name was originally a descriptive term used to refer to rivers, streams, or perhaps even individuals who lived near bodies of water. However, the earliest recorded instances of the name are shrouded in mystery, with no clear written references in ancient texts or historical documents.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Reathel was a minor nobleman who lived in the region of Brittany, France, during the 12th century. Records from that era indicate that he was involved in local political affairs and disputes over land ownership.
Several centuries later, in the late 16th century, a woman named Reathel MacKenzie was born in the Scottish Highlands. She gained recognition as a skilled herbalist and healer, and her knowledge of medicinal plants was widely respected throughout the region.
Fast forward to the 19th century, and we find Reathel Finch, a renowned English botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora in the British colonies. Born in 1824, Finch's extensive travels and meticulous observations led to the discovery of numerous new plant species.
Another notable figure was Reathel Jameson, an American artist and illustrator who lived from 1853 to 1918. Jameson's intricate pen-and-ink drawings captured the beauty of nature and were featured in several popular publications of the time.
Finally, in the early 20th century, Reathel Devereux was a respected archaeologist and historian who specialized in the study of ancient Celtic civilizations. Her groundbreaking research shed light on the fascinating cultural traditions and belief systems of these early European societies.
While the name Reathel has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals have left their mark in various fields, serving as a testament to the unique and intriguing nature of this ancient moniker.
People
Reathel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reathel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Reathel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reathel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reathel going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Reathel a common name?
We classify Reathel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 133 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reathel most popular?
The single biggest year for Reathel was 1921, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reathel is about 87 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Reathel a female name?
Yes, 95.5% of people registered as Reathel in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.