Reef

“Ridge of rock, sand, or coral near the water's surface” — English word name origin

Boy's name · #2509 in the US (2025) · 2020s

Reef is near its high-water mark: it reached #1898 in 2021 and still ranked #2509 in 2025. About 1,300 boys have carried it since 1996. In Hawaii it runs about 45× its national rate.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,100 boys in New Zealand (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 3 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Reefs

Reef the Lost Cauze — American rapper
Reef Messika — Israeli footballer
Reef Peretz — Israeli footballer
Reef Karim — psychiatrist and actor
Reef McInnes — Australian rules footballer

Similar names: Makaio · Ripp · Eliab · Rye · Raziel · Ridley

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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