Holding steady.
Popularity of Reade since 1956
Babies named Reade per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 53 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 28 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Reade is a rare given name with English surname origins, first recorded in U.S. births in 1956. It reached its peak usage in 1974, though it never entered the top 1000 rankings. The name has remained consistently uncommon, with a stable trajectory in recent decades. Potential meanings include a reference to 'red' hair or 'reed' beds, but the etymology is debated. Reade offers a concise, modern-sounding alternative to more common surname-style names like Reid or Reed.
Reade is likely a transferred use of the English surname Reade, which has multiple possible origins. It could be a variant of Read, an occupational name for a red-haired person or someone who lived near a reed bed, from Middle English 'reed' or 'rede'. Alternatively, it may derive from various place names like Rede in Suffolk or Ryedale in Yorkshire. As a given name, Reade has seen sparse use since the mid-20th century, with a peak in 1974.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Reade
Names that share Reade's style, for a brother or sister.
