Total births
1,873
Unisex name · since 1892
Rea
Since 1892, U.S. Social Security records show 1,873 babies named Rea, peaking in 1958. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6663
- among girls today
- 1,873
- born since 1892
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Rea is the #6663 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,873 recorded since 1892.
Rea has 1,873 recorded births among girls since 1892, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #6663 as of the latest data, more common than 62% of girls, busiest in the 1950s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1892 to 2025.
- #6663 among girls today
- 1,873 born since 1892
- 1950s peak decade
- 62% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rea is currently the #6663 unisex name in America, more common than 62% of girls - 1,873 born since 1892, peaking in the 1950s.
- #6663
- among girls today
- 1,873
- born since 1892
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 62%
- more common than other girls
Rea vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#6663
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 62% of names given to girls today.
1950s
Peak decade
11% of everyone ever named Rea was born in this single decade.
1958
Single peak year
29 babies were named Rea in 1958 - its busiest year on record.
How Rea compares
1,873 Top 23% higher than 77% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Rea's all-time total is 5x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rea | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,873 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 29 | 48 | 19,840 |
Rea's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Rea's SSA record in two at 1962 and the more recent half accounts for 48% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 52%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1892, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1958 peak of 29, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Rea at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1958
Current rank
#6,663
Active since
1892
Rea popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1892–2025
- Peak year (1958)
- 29
- Annual births at peak, across 134 years of records
Rea popularity over time - boys
190 total births recorded since 1912 (Rea as boys' name)
Rea by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Rea's strongest decade.
208 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 11% of all-time use.
Rea births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 21
1890s
21 births
- 1900s 57
1900s
57 births
- 1910s
1910s
140 births
- 1920s
1920s
183 births
- 1930s
1930s
170 births
- 1940s
1940s
160 births
- 1950s
1950s
208 births
- 1960s
1960s
137 births
- 1970s
1970s
129 births
- 1980s
1980s
106 births
- 1990s
1990s
129 births
- 2000s
2000s
155 births
- 2010s
2010s
140 births
- 2020s
2020s
138 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 208 births (11% of all-time use).
How Rea compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Rea's total volume
Rea vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Rea by state
Where Rea concentrates geographically, total births since 1892
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 46 | 2.5% |
| #2 | California | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Connecticut | | 5 | 0.3% |
New York share of Rea's total US births 2.5%
Even split
46 of 1,873 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rea? ▼
Since 1892, Social Security records show 1,873 babies named Rea. Today it holds rank #6663 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 1958, with 29 births.
When was Rea most popular? ▼
Rea was most popular in the 1950s decade with 208 total births. The single peak year was 1958.
Where is Rea most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rea are New York (46 births), California (10 births), Pennsylvania (10 births).
Is Rea a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Rea is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,873 births, and as a boy's name it has 190 births.
How long has the name Rea been used? ▼
Rea has been recorded in Social Security data since 1892, spanning 134 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Rea? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Reagan, Reanna, Reatha, Reaghan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Rea's data
- Rea's usage has stayed within range of its 1950s decade-level peak (208 total births) through the 2020s (138) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- New York records the most Reas (46 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Rea
Nearby Names Like Rea
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rea
Reagan Girl
#244 65,739 births
Reanna Girl
#7324 5,580 births
Reatha Girl
2,624 births
Reaghan Girl
#11473 1,116 births
Reather Girl
912 births
Compare Rea side by side: Rea vs Reagan Rea vs Reanna Rea vs Reatha
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rea
Maryellen #6662
13,144 births · Peak 1960
Jena #6664
13,241 births · Peak 1986
Zenia #6661
1,770 births · Peak 1988
Michelina #6665
2,191 births · Peak 1922
Zenna #6660
529 births · Peak 2023
Reggie #6666
551 births · Peak 2023
Tallie #6659
561 births · Peak 1972
Marya #6667
2,211 births · Peak 1971
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1892–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rea: #6663 Unisex Name - 1,873 Births, Peak 1958." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rea. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rea draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.