Reva
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "lovely" or "beautiful stream".
Name Census estimates that about 6,248 living Americans carry the first name Reva. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Reva today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Reva births was 1921 (351 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Reva. 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
6.2K
~ 1 in 54,858 Americans
Peak year
1921
351 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
1945 SSA rank
#2,731
Tracked since 1883
Gender
Gender distribution for Reva
Out of the 15,961 babies given the name Reva since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Reva as a male name
- Ranked #3,683 in 1945
- 5 male births in 1945
- Peak: 1920 (6 births)
Reva as a female name
- Ranked #2,731 in 2024
- 63 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1921 (351 births)
Popularity
Reva: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Reva from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 3,114 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reva 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 Reva during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Revas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 36 states and territories. Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio recorded the most babies named Reva, while Connecticut, Washington, Minnesota recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 294 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Reva
The name Reva is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language of the Indian subcontinent. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "ravi," which means "sun" or "sunlight." This connection to the sun suggests that the name may have been associated with radiance, warmth, and light in its early use.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reva can be found in Hindu mythology, where it is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara. In these ancient texts, the apsaras were described as beautiful and skilled dancers who entertained the gods in the heavenly realms. The inclusion of the name in these mythological stories indicates its long-standing presence in Indian culture.
During the medieval period, the name Reva appears to have been used primarily within certain regions of the Indian subcontinent, such as the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Historical records from this time period include references to individuals bearing this name, though their exact identities and significance are often obscured by the passage of time.
One notable figure associated with the name Reva was Reva Shankar Baruah, an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who lived from 1876 to 1940. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule and was a member of the Anushilan Samiti, a revolutionary organization that advocated for India's freedom through armed struggle.
Another prominent individual with the name Reva was Reva Deshmukh, an Indian social worker and activist who lived from 1926 to 2013. She dedicated her life to the empowerment of women and rural development, founding several organizations aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged communities in India.
In more recent times, the name Reva has gained popularity beyond its traditional geographic origins. One notable individual is Reva Renee Renz, an American author and motivational speaker born in 1971. She has written several books on personal growth and self-development, inspiring readers worldwide with her empowering messages.
Another individual of note is Reva Gerstein, a Canadian psychologist and author born in 1935. She has made significant contributions to the field of child psychology and has written extensively on topics such as childhood anxiety and parenting strategies.
While the name Reva has its roots in the ancient Sanskrit language and Hindu mythology, it has transcended its cultural origins and found use across various regions and communities around the world. Its association with the sun and radiance has likely contributed to its enduring appeal and continued use throughout history.
People
Reva + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Reva 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
Reva: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Reva?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6,248 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Reva 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 54,858 US residents.
Is Reva a common name?
We classify Reva as "Rare". It ranks above 97% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 15,961 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Reva most popular?
The single biggest year for Reva was 1921, when 351 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Reva is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Reva a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Reva 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.