Reesa
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "beautiful".
Name Census estimates that about 645 living Americans carry the first name Reesa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Reesa today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reesa births was 1963 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reesa. 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
645
~ 1 in 531,402 Americans
Peak year
1963
21 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,892
Tracked since 1945
Popularity
Reesa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Reesa from the 1940s through to the 2020s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 153 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reesa 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 Reesa 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 Reesa
The name Reesa originates from the Sanskrit language and can be traced back to ancient India. It is derived from the word "resa," which means "sweetness" or "nectar." The name has been in use for centuries, with records indicating its presence in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Reesa can be found in the Mahabharata, a renowned Indian epic poem dating back to the 8th or 9th century BCE. In this epic, Reesa is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph known for her beauty and grace.
Throughout history, the name Reesa has been borne by various notable figures. One such individual was Reesa Devi, a renowned Indian poet and author who lived during the 16th century. Her works, which focused on themes of devotion and spirituality, were widely celebrated during her lifetime and continue to be studied today.
Another prominent figure with the name Reesa was Reesa Begum, a 17th-century Mughal princess known for her patronage of the arts and her philanthropic endeavors. She played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Mughal court, supporting artists, scholars, and poets.
In more recent times, Reesa Khan (1932-2019) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was widely recognized for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms, and her performances were celebrated both nationally and internationally.
Reesa Fernandes (1945-2012) was a renowned Indian social activist and environmentalist. She dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and championing environmental causes. Her work earned her numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.
The name Reesa has also found its way into various literary works, further solidifying its place in cultural history. For instance, in the novel "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy, one of the central characters is named Reesa, reflecting the author's appreciation for the name's cultural significance.
People
Reesa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reesa 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
Reesa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reesa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 645 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reesa 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 531,402 US residents.
Is Reesa a common name?
We classify Reesa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 742 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reesa most popular?
The single biggest year for Reesa was 1963, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reesa is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Reesa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Reesa 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.