Reshad
A masculine Arabic name meaning "the right path" or "guidance".
Name Census estimates that about 162 living Americans carry the first name Reshad. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Reshad today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reshad births was 1989 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reshad. 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
162
~ 1 in 2,115,768 Americans
Peak year
1989
12 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2016 SSA rank
#11,833
Tracked since 1980
Popularity
Reshad: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Reshad from the 1980s through to the 2010s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 66 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reshad 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 Reshad 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 Reshad
The name Reshad is derived from the Persian language and has its origins in ancient Persia, now known as Iran. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 7th century AD, during the Islamic golden age and the expansion of the Persian Empire.
Reshad is formed from the Persian root word "rash," which means "straight" or "upright," and the suffix "-ad," which is a common Persian name ending. The name can be interpreted to mean "the upright one" or "the righteous one." It was likely given to individuals who were perceived as embodying these virtuous qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reshad can be found in the famous Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In the epic, there is a character named Reshad, who is described as a wise and noble warrior.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reshad. One of the earliest was Reshad al-Din Fazlollah (1247-1318), a renowned Persian philosopher, scholar, and physician who served as the vizier (prime minister) of the Ilkhanid Dynasty in Persia.
Another prominent figure was Reshad Pasha (1805-1858), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) of the Ottoman Empire from 1857 to 1858.
In the realm of literature, Reshad Nuri Guntekin (1889-1956) was a celebrated Turkish novelist and playwright who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Turkish literature.
In the field of science, Reshad Feild (1932-2021) was a British physicist and author who made significant contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism and the nature of consciousness.
Lastly, Reshad Strik (born 1973) is a British politician and member of the European Parliament, representing the Green Party of England and Wales.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Reshad, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne it.
People
Reshad + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reshad 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
Reshad: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reshad?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 162 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reshad 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 2,115,768 US residents.
Is Reshad a common name?
We classify Reshad as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 166 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reshad most popular?
The single biggest year for Reshad was 1989, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reshad is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Reshad a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Reshad 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.