Redd
A name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the color red.
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the first name Redd. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Redd today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Redd births was 2022 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Redd. 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.
People living today
124
~ 1 in 2,764,148 Americans
Peak year
2022
16 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,646
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Redd: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Redd from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 60 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Redd by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Redd during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Redd
The name Redd is an English name derived from the Old English word "read," meaning red or ruddy complexion. It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a reddish or fair complexion.
Redd can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, around the 5th to 11th centuries. It was commonly used as a descriptive surname during this time, referring to a person's physical appearance or distinguishing characteristic. Over time, it transitioned from a surname to a given name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Redd can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions individuals with the surname "Redd" or variations like "Redde" and "Reade."
In the 12th century, the name appeared in the "Pipe Rolls of Henry II," which were financial records of the English monarchy. These rolls include entries for individuals named Redd or similar spellings, such as "Radde" and "Redde."
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Redd. One example is Redd Foxx (1922-1991), an American comedian and actor best known for his role in the sitcom "Sanford and Son." Another is Redd Pepper (1909-1972), an American jazz drummer and bandleader who performed with notable musicians like Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman.
Redd Herring (1950-2008) was an American actor and comedian, known for his work in sketch comedy shows like "The Kids in the Hall." Redd Volkaert (born 1958) is a renowned American guitarist who has played with various country music artists and received Grammy nominations for his work.
In the literary world, Redd Boggs (1932-1996) was an American science fiction fan and writer, known for his fanzine "The Lovecraft Collector" and his contributions to the world of amateur press associations.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Redd, showcasing its enduring presence across various fields and eras.
People
Redd + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Redd 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
Redd: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Redd?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 124 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Redd 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 2,764,148 US residents.
Is Redd a common name?
We classify Redd as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 125 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Redd most popular?
The single biggest year for Redd was 2022, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Redd is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Redd a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Redd in the SSA data are male. 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.