Reiter
A masculine German name derived from the German word "Reiter" meaning "horseman" or "rider".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Reiter. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Reiter today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reiter births was 2011 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reiter. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Reiter. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2011
7 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2014 SSA rank
#13,609
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Reiter: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Reiter 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 Reiter during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Reiter
The name Reiter has its origins in the German language, and it is derived from the German word "Reiter," which means "rider" or "horseman." This name is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages, a time when horsemen played a significant role in warfare, transportation, and social status.
The name Reiter was likely given to individuals who had a close association with horses, either as professional riders, such as knights or cavalry members, or those who worked with horses in some capacity, such as grooms or stable hands. The name may have also been used to denote someone's skill or expertise in horseback riding.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reiter can be found in the Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in areas where horse culture and horsemanship were highly valued. The name may have also been influenced by the German word "reiten," which means "to ride."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reiter. One of the most famous was Gottfried Reiter (1667-1734), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. Another notable Reiter was Johann Reiter (1650-1712), a German composer and organist who was known for his works in the Baroque era.
In the realm of literature, Georg Reiter (1882-1959) was a German writer and playwright who gained recognition for his works exploring social issues and human relationships. Additionally, Johann Reiter (1589-1666) was a German artist and engraver who produced numerous religious and historical works of art.
Another prominent figure with the name Reiter was Friedrich Reiter (1883-1965), an Austrian-born American architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the German Consulate General and the Park Avenue Synagogue.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Reiter throughout history, demonstrating its enduring presence and the diverse fields in which it has been represented.
People
Reiter + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reiter 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
Reiter: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reiter?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reiter 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Reiter a common name?
We classify Reiter as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reiter most popular?
The single biggest year for Reiter was 2011, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reiter is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Reiter in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Reiter a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Reiter 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.
Is Reiter still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Reiter in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Reiter can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Reiter?
See how many people have the name Reiter on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.