Ree
A feminine name derived from Marie, meaning "wished-for child".
Name Census estimates that about 153 living Americans carry the first name Ree. It is a predominantly female name (98.4% of registrations). The average person named Ree today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ree births was 1953 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ree. 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
153
~ 1 in 2,240,224 Americans
Peak year
1953
17 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1953 SSA rank
#4,235
Tracked since 1908
Gender
Gender distribution for Ree
Ree leans heavily female at 98.4% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Ree as a male name
- Ranked #4,235 in 1953
- 5 male births in 1953
- Peak: 1953 (5 births)
Ree as a female name
- Ranked #17,135 in 2021
- 5 female births in 2021
- Peak: 1952 (12 births)
Popularity
Ree: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ree from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 98 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ree 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 Ree 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 Ree
The name Ree is a unisex given name with origins in several cultures and languages. It is believed to have originated as a shortened form of other names or as a standalone name with various meanings.
In English-speaking countries, Ree is sometimes used as a diminutive or nickname for names like Reginald, Regina, or Rhea. It can also be a shortened version of the name Reed, which has Old English origins and means "red-haired."
In Dutch and Germanic languages, Ree is a variant spelling of the name Ria, which is derived from the name Maria. This name has biblical roots and means "wished-for child" or "bitter" in Hebrew.
In Asian cultures, particularly in Japan, the name Ree can be a romanized rendering of the Japanese name "Rei," which means "bell," "courtesy," or "gratitude." It is a popular name for both males and females in Japan.
Historically, there are records of individuals named Ree or variations of the name dating back centuries. One notable figure was Ree Drummond, an American blogger, author, and television personality born in 1969, known for her work on the Food Network show "The Pioneer Woman."
Another famous Ree was Ree Morton, an American artist and sculptor who lived from 1936 to 1977. Her work explored themes of language, identity, and consumer culture.
In the 17th century, there was Ree Drummond, an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1640 to 1644.
Ree Vye, a Norwegian writer and poet who lived from 1881 to 1959, is also known for her contributions to Norwegian literature.
Lastly, Ree Jeré, an American actress and singer who was active in the 1940s and 1950s, is remembered for her performances in films and on Broadway.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ree or variations of it, highlighting the diverse cultural and linguistic origins of this given name.
People
Ree + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ree 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
Ree: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ree?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 153 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ree 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 2,240,224 US residents.
Is Ree a common name?
We classify Ree as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 305 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ree most popular?
The single biggest year for Ree was 1953, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ree is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ree a female name?
Yes, 98.4% of people registered as Ree 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.