Names that start with R
These 317 R names run from Raanan to Ryunosuke, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Roman, Rowan and Riley.
Refaat
High rank (Arabic)
BoyArabic
Rosamund
Horse protection (Germanic). No. 7,428 in the US in 2025, 15 babies.
GirlEnglish
Rhodri
Wheel king (Welsh)
BoyWelsh
Raghnaid
Counsel, battle (Old Norse)
GirlScottish
Rajesh
Lord of kings (Sanskrit)
BoyIndian
Ardor, enthusiasm (Welsh). No. 412 in the US in 2025, 778 babies. Given to both: 5% girls.
BoyEnglish
Ruadhán
Little red one (Irish Gaelic)
BoyIrish
Ronalda
Counsel ruler (Old Norse)
GirlScottish
Rosita
Little rose (Latin). No. 3,634 in the US in 2025, 42 babies.
GirlSpanish
Remigio
Oarsman (Latin). No. 13,458 in the US in 2025, 5 babies.
BoySpanish
Tip: lock the names you like, then generate again.Open the full baby name generator →
Most popular names starting with R in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | For | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #42 | Roman | 6,162 | Boys | Rising | Roman, from Rome |
| #59 | Rowan | 5,212 | Boys | Rising | little red one |
| #48 | Riley | 4,441 | Girls | Steady | from a surname meaning rye clearing |
| #92 | Robert | 3,772 | Boys | Steady | bright fame |
| #64 | Ruby | 3,554 | Girls | Steady | red gemstone |
| #99 | Ryan | 3,532 | Boys | Falling | from an Irish surname, traditionally little king |
| #111 | River | 3,139 | Boys | Rising | flowing river |
| #133 | Ryder | 2,710 | Boys | Steady | mounted warrior |
| #114 | Rose | 2,386 | Girls | Steady | fragrant garden flower |
| #116 | Raelynn | 2,326 | Girls | Steady | modern blend of Rae and the name suffix lyn |
| #137 | Rylee | 2,118 | Girls | Steady | variant of Riley, from a surname meaning rye clearing |
| #145 | Remi | 2,023 | Girls | Rising | English form of Rémi, oarsman, rower |
| #183 | Ryker | 2,003 | Boys | Steady | possibly from the German surname Riker, from rike, rich |
| #188 | Rhett | 1,936 | Boys | Steady | advice, counsel |
| #171 | Rosalie | 1,797 | Girls | Steady | rose |
| #173 | Ruth | 1,781 | Girls | Rising | friend |
| #199 | Rory | 1,768 | Boys | Rising | red king |
| #208 | Riley | 1,666 | Boys | Steady | from a surname meaning rye clearing |
| #218 | Rafael | 1,639 | Boys | Steady | God heals |
| #192 | Reese | 1,631 | Girls | Steady | ardor, enthusiasm |
| #234 | Richard | 1,505 | Boys | Steady | brave ruler |
| #247 | Ronan | 1,406 | Boys | Steady | little seal |
| #220 | River | 1,401 | Girls | Steady | flowing river |
| #230 | Rory | 1,332 | Girls | Rising | red king |
| #248 | Reagan | 1,244 | Girls | Falling | little king |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
R names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with R, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Girls
- Share of girls, 2025
- 4.4%
- Place among 26 letters
- 8th
- Different R names
- 872
- In the top 1,000
- 51
Share of girls with an R name: 4.1% in 1950, 3.1% in 2000, and 4.4% in 2025.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 4.9%
- Place among 26 letters
- 9th
- Different R names
- 791
- In the top 1,000
- 63
Share of boys with an R name: 14.3% in 1950, 4.7% in 2000, and 4.9% in 2025.
R names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Reginaqueen (Latin)
- Robertbright fame (Germanic)
- Ritaa pearl (Greek)
- Rosarose flower (Latin)
- Ricardabrave ruler (Germanic)
- Robertabright fame (Germanic)
- Rosalierose (Latin)
- Rachelewe, female sheep (Hebrew)
- RaphaelGod heals (Hebrew)
- Renatoborn again (Latin)
- Richardbrave ruler (Germanic)
- Robertobright fame (Germanic)
- Rolandfamous land (Germanic)
- RomanRoman, from Rome (Latin)
- Ronanlittle seal (Irish Gaelic)
- Roryred king (Irish Gaelic)
- Roxanabright, shining (Persian)
- Rubenbehold, a son (Hebrew)
Where these names come from
- Germanic: 72
- Latin: 48
- Hebrew: 37
- Sanskrit: 23
- Arabic: 22
- Japanese: 21
- Old Norse: 18
- Irish Gaelic: 13
All 317 names that start with R
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raanan | fresh, invigorating | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rab | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Rabbie | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Rachel | ewe, female sheep | Hebrew | Girl |
| Radegund | counsel and war | Germanic | Girl |
| Radha | success, prosperity | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Radosław | happy glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Radosława | happy glory | Slavic | Girl |
| Raelynn | modern blend of Rae and the name suffix lyn | English | Girl |
| Rafa | pet form of Rafael | Spanish | Boy |
| Rafael | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rafaela | God heals | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rafail | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rafał | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rafe | wolf counsel | Germanic | Boy |
| Raffaele | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Raffaella | God heals | Hebrew | Girl |
| Ragaa | hope | Arabic | Girl |
| Ragab | respect, awe | Arabic | Boy |
| Raghad | prosperity, comfort | Arabic | Girl |
| Raghnaid | counsel, battle | Old Norse | Girl |
| Raghnall | counsel ruler | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ragna | counsel of the gods | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ragnar | warrior of counsel | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ragnheid | bright counsel | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ragnhild | counsel and battle | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ragnvald | counsel and rule | Old Norse | Boy |
| Rahab | spacious | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rahamim | mercy, compassion | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rahma | mercy, compassion | Arabic | Girl |
| Raibeart | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Ráichéal | ewe | Hebrew | Girl |
| Raimonda | counsel and protection | Germanic | Girl |
| Raimondo | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Raimunda | counsel protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Raimundo | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Rain | rain | Old English | Unisex |
| Rainer | counsel army | Germanic | Boy |
| Raisel | little rose | Yiddish | Girl |
| Raj | king, rule | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Raja | hope | Arabic | Girl |
| Rajani | night, darkness | Sanskrit | Unisex |
| Rajesh | lord of kings | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Rajiv | blue lotus, striped | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Rajkumari | princess, the king's daughter | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Rakefet | cyclamen | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rakesh | lord of the full moon | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ralf | counsel wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Ralph | counsel wolf | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ram | pleasing, charming | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ramesh | lord of Rama (Lakshmi), a name of Vishnu | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Rami | archer or marksman | Arabic | Boy |
| Ramin | peace, joy | Persian | Boy |
| Ramiro | famous counsel | Germanic | Boy |
| Ramón | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Ramona | counsel protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Ramy | archer | Arabic | Boy |
| Ramzy | symbolic | Arabic | Boy |
| Ran | orchid | Japanese | Unisex |
| Rana | to gaze, look intently | Arabic | Girl |
| Ranald | counsel ruler | Old Norse | Boy |
| Randa | scented tree | Arabic | Girl |
| Randall | shield-rim wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Randi | worthy of admiration | Latin | Girl |
| Randolph | shield-rim wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rani | queen | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Raonaid | counsel, battle | Old Norse | Girl |
| Raoul | counsel wolf | Old Norse | Boy |
| Raphael | God heals | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Raphaela | God heals | Hebrew | Girl |
| Raphaëlle | God heals | Hebrew | Girl |
| Raquel | ewe, female sheep | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rasha | young gazelle | Arabic | Girl |
| Rashid | rightly guided | Arabic | Boy |
| Rashmi | ray of sunlight | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Rathnait | grace, prosperity | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Ratnakar | jewel mine, a name for the ocean | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ratri | night | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Raúl | wolf counsel | Germanic | Boy |
| Raven | black bird | Old English | Unisex |
| Ravi | the sun | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ravikiran | sunbeam, ray of the sun | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Ravindra | lord of the sun | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Raviv | rain shower | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rawda | meadow, garden | Arabic | Girl |
| Ray | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Rayén | flower | Mapudungun | Girl |
| Rayhan | sweet basil | Arabic | Boy |
| Rayhana | basil | Arabic | Girl |
| Raymond | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Raymonde | counsel protector | Germanic | Girl |
| Raymundo | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Rayyan | watered, luxuriant | Arabic | Unisex |
| Raz | secret | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Raziela | my secret is God | Hebrew | Girl |
| Reagan | little king | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Réamonn | counsel protector | Germanic | Boy |
| Reed | red-haired | Old English | Boy |
| Reem | white gazelle | Arabic | Girl |
| Reese | ardor, enthusiasm | Welsh | Unisex |
| Refaat | high rank | Arabic | Boy |
| Refael | God heals | Hebrew | Boy |
| Refugio | refuge | Latin | Unisex |
| Regina | queen | Latin | Girl |
| Reginald | counsel ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Regine | queen | Latin | Girl |
| Regla | rule | Latin | Girl |
| Regula | rule | Latin | Girl |
| Reham | fine rain, drizzle | Arabic | Girl |
| Rehema | mercy, compassion | Swahili | Girl |
| Rei | tinkling jade (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Reid | red-haired | Old English | Boy |
| Reiko | tinkling jade child; lovely child (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Reina | queen | Spanish | Girl |
| Reinaldo | counsel ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Reine | queen | French | Girl |
| Reinhard | brave counsel | Germanic | Boy |
| Reinhild | counsel and battle | Germanic | Girl |
| Reinhold | counsel and rule | Germanic | Boy |
| Rekha | line, streak | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Remedios | remedies | Latin | Girl |
| Remi | English form of Rémi, oarsman, rower | Latin | Unisex |
| Remigio | oarsman | Latin | Boy |
| Remy | oarsman, rower | Latin | Unisex |
| Ren | lotus; love (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Renata | born again | Latin | Girl |
| Renate | born again | Latin | Girl |
| Renato | born again | Latin | Boy |
| Rene | reborn | Latin | Unisex |
| Renée | born again | Latin | Girl |
| Renzo | man from Laurentum | Latin | Boy |
| Restituto | restored, reinstated | Latin | Boy |
| Reto | of Rhaetia | Latin | Boy |
| Reuben | behold, a son | Hebrew | Boy |
| Reut | friendship | Hebrew | Girl |
| Reuven | behold, a son | Hebrew | Boy |
| Revati | prosperous | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Revital | saturated with dew | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rex | king | Latin | Boy |
| Reza | contentment, satisfaction | Arabic | Boy |
| Rhett | advice, counsel | Dutch | Boy |
| Rhian | maiden, young woman | Welsh | Girl |
| Rhiannon | great queen | Welsh | Girl |
| Rhoda | rose | Greek | Girl |
| Rhodri | wheel king | Welsh | Boy |
| Rhosyn | rose | Welsh | Girl |
| Rhys | ardor, enthusiasm | Welsh | Boy |
| Rían | traditionally little king | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ricarda | brave ruler | Germanic | Girl |
| Ricardo | brave ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Riccardo | brave ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Richard | brave ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Ridley | reed clearing | Old English | Unisex |
| Rie | reason and blessing | Japanese | Girl |
| Rigoberto | bright ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Rika | pear blossom | Japanese | Girl |
| Rike | ruler | Germanic | Girl |
| Riko | jasmine child (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Riku | dry land (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Rikuto | land and the Dipper constellation (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Boy |
| Riley | from a surname meaning rye clearing | Old English | Unisex |
| Rim | white antelope | Arabic | Girl |
| Rimon | pomegranate | Hebrew | Boy |
| Rin | dignified; bell (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Rina | joy, joyful song | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rinat | joy, singing | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rinka | dignified flower (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Rio | river | Spanish | Unisex |
| Ríoghán | little king | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ríona | queenly one | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Ripley | thicket clearing | Old English | Unisex |
| Rishi | sage, seer | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Risteárd | brave ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Rita | a pearl | Greek | Girl |
| Ritsu | law, order (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Ritu | season, period | Sanskrit | Girl |
| River | flowing river | English | Unisex |
| Rizpah | coal, hot stone | Hebrew | Girl |
| Robbie | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Robert | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Roberta | bright fame | Germanic | Girl |
| Roberto | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Robin | bright fame | Germanic | Unisex |
| Robina | bright fame | Germanic | Girl |
| Rocío | morning dew | Spanish | Girl |
| Roderick | famous ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Rodina | famous ruler | Germanic | Girl |
| Rodney | Hroda's island | Old English | Boy |
| Rodolfo | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rodolphe | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rodrigo | famous ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Rogelio | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Roger | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Rogério | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Rohan | ascending, rising | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Rohini | ascending, the star Aldebaran | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Rohit | red | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Roi | famous ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Roibeárd | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Róise | rose | Latin | Girl |
| Róisín | little rose | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Roksana | bright, shining | Persian | Girl |
| Rokuro | sixth son | Japanese | Boy |
| Roland | famous land | Germanic | Boy |
| Rolando | famous land | Germanic | Boy |
| Rolf | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rollo | famous wolf | Old Norse | Boy |
| Rom | height | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Romain | Roman | Latin | Boy |
| Roman | Roman, from Rome | Latin | Boy |
| Romane | Roman, from Rome | Latin | Girl |
| Romeo | Roman, from Rome | Latin | Boy |
| Romi | my height, my exaltation | Hebrew | Girl |
| Romualdo | fame and rule | Germanic | Boy |
| Romy | German pet form of Rosemarie | Germanic | Girl |
| Ron | song, joy | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ronald | counsel ruler | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ronalda | counsel ruler | Old Norse | Girl |
| Ronaldo | counsel ruler | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ronan | little seal | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Ronen | song, joy | Hebrew | Boy |
| Ronit | song, joy | Hebrew | Girl |
| Roos | rose flower | Latin | Girl |
| Rory | red king | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Rosa | rose flower | Latin | Girl |
| Rosa María | rose plus Mary | Latin and Hebrew | Girl |
| Rosabel | beautiful rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rosalba | white rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rosalia | rose | Latin | Unisex |
| Rosalie | rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rosalinda | horse and gentle, later read as pretty rose | Germanic | Girl |
| Rosamund | horse protection | Germanic | Girl |
| Rosamunde | horse protection | Germanic | Girl |
| Rosana | rose and grace | Latin and Hebrew | Girl |
| Rosângela | rose and angel | Latin and Greek | Girl |
| Rosanna | rose and grace | Latin | Girl |
| Rosanne | rose and grace | Latin | Girl |
| Rosaria | rosary | Latin | Girl |
| Rosario | rosary | Latin | Girl |
| Rose | fragrant garden flower | Latin | Girl |
| Rosemary | dew of the sea | Latin | Girl |
| Roser | rosary | Latin | Girl |
| Rosetta | little rose | Latin | Girl |
| Roshan | light, bright | Persian | Unisex |
| Roshanak | bright, shining | Persian | Girl |
| Roshanara | light and adornment | Persian | Girl |
| Rosheen | little rose | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Roshni | light, brightness | Hindi | Girl |
| Rosi | rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rosie | fragrant garden flower | Latin | Girl |
| Rosita | little rose | Latin | Girl |
| Ross | headland, promontory | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Rossella | little red one | Italian | Girl |
| Rostislav | growing glory | Slavic | Boy |
| Rostislava | growing glory | Slavic | Girl |
| Roswitha | fame and strength | Germanic | Girl |
| Rotem | a desert broom plant | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Rouzbeh | fortunate, prosperous | Persian | Boy |
| Rowan | little red one | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Roxana | bright, shining | Persian | Girl |
| Roxanne | bright, shining | Persian | Girl |
| Roxie | bright, shining | Persian | Girl |
| Roy | red | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Roya | dream, vision | Persian | Girl |
| Róża | rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rozaliya | rose | Latin | Girl |
| Rozenn | rose | Breton | Girl |
| Ruadhán | little red one | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ruairí | red king | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ruairidh | red king | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ruaridh | red king | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ruba | hill | Arabic | Girl |
| Ruben | behold, a son | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Rubí | ruby | Latin | Girl |
| Ruby | red gemstone | Latin | Girl |
| Rudabeh | shining child | Persian | Girl |
| Rudi | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rüdiger | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Rudo | love | Shona | Unisex |
| Rudolf | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rudolfine | famous wolf | Germanic | Girl |
| Rudolph | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rudy | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Ruedi | famous wolf | Germanic | Boy |
| Rufaro | happiness | Shona | Girl |
| Rufina | red-haired | Latin | Girl |
| Rufino | red-haired | Latin | Boy |
| Rufus | red-haired | Latin | Boy |
| Ruggero | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Rui | famous ruler | Germanic | Unisex |
| Rumi | lasting beauty | Japanese | Girl |
| Runa | secret lore | Old Norse | Girl |
| Rune | secret lore | Old Norse | Boy |
| Rupert | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Rupinder | greatest beauty | Punjabi | Unisex |
| Ruprecht | bright fame | Germanic | Boy |
| Rurik | famous ruler | Old Norse | Boy |
| Ruslan | lion, from Turkic arslan | Turkic | Boy |
| Russell | little red one | Old French | Boy |
| Rutendo | thankfulness | Shona | Unisex |
| Rutger | famous spear | Germanic | Boy |
| Ruth | friend | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rutherford | cattle ford | Old English | Boy |
| Ruthie | friend | Hebrew | Girl |
| Rüzgar | wind | Turkish | Boy |
| Ryan | from an Irish surname, traditionally little king | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Ryder | mounted warrior | Old English | Boy |
| Ryker | possibly from the German surname Riker, from rike, rich | German | Boy |
| Rylee | variant of Riley, from a surname meaning rye clearing | Old English | Girl |
| Ryo | cool, refreshing; good (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Ryoko | cool child | Japanese | Girl |
| Ryoma | dragon horse (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Ryosuke | clear helper (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Boy |
| Ryota | cool and big (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Ryszard | brave ruler | Germanic | Boy |
| Ryu | dragon | Japanese | Boy |
| Ryunosuke | dragon helper (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names that start with R?
The most popular names starting with R in the US are Roman (#42 for boys), Rowan (#59 for boys), Riley (#48 for girls), Robert (#92 for boys), Ruby (#64 for girls), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many names start with R?
In 2025, 872 different girl names starting with R were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 51 of them were in the top 1,000. In 2025, 791 different boy names starting with R were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 63 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 317 with their meaning and origin.
How common are girl names that start with R?
4.4% of US girls born in 2025 have a name starting with R, making it the 8th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 4.1%.
How common are boy names that start with R?
4.9% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with R, making it the 9th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 14.3%.
Where do names starting with R come from?
The most common origins on this list are Germanic (72), Latin (48), Hebrew (37).