Rheana
Of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly from Latin/Greek meaning "moon" or "ocean".
Name Census estimates that about 241 living Americans carry the first name Rheana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rheana today is around 29 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rheana births was 2002 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rheana. 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
241
~ 1 in 1,422,217 Americans
Peak year
2002
21 babies that year
Average age
29
years old
2008 SSA rank
#11,428
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Rheana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rheana from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 112 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rheana 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 Rheana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rheanas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Rheana
The name Rheana is believed to have its origins in Ancient Greek, derived from the word "rhein," meaning "to flow." It was likely used to describe someone who lived near a river or stream. The earliest known recorded use of the name dates back to the 5th century BCE, when it was mentioned in a Greek play by the playwright Aristophanes.
Rheana was a relatively uncommon name in ancient times, but it did appear in various historical records and texts. In the 3rd century BCE, a notable Greek philosopher named Rheana of Cyzicus was known for her contributions to the study of ethics and logic. She was one of the few female philosophers of her time and was highly respected by her peers.
During the Byzantine Empire, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century, the name Rheana gained some popularity among the Greek-speaking population. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name during this period was Rheana of Thessalonica, a noblewoman who lived in the 7th century and was known for her charitable works and support of the arts.
In the 10th century, a renowned Byzantine scholar named Rheana Philoponus made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy. She was one of the first women to write extensively on these subjects and her works were widely studied and influential.
Another notable figure was Rheana Komnene, a Byzantine princess who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her intelligence and her efforts to promote education and literacy among women of the noble class.
During the Renaissance period, the name Rheana was occasionally used in Italy and other parts of Europe, although it remained relatively rare. One notable figure from this time was Rheana Simonetta, an Italian artist and poet who lived in the 15th century and was celebrated for her talents and beauty.
While the name Rheana has ancient roots, it has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, with only a few notable individuals bearing this name. Its meaning and connection to the concept of flowing water have persisted over the centuries, making it a unique and intriguing choice for a given name.
People
Rheana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rheana 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
Rheana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rheana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 241 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rheana 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 1,422,217 US residents.
Is Rheana a common name?
We classify Rheana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 248 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rheana most popular?
The single biggest year for Rheana was 2002, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rheana is about 29 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rheana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rheana 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.