A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Reason since 1885
Babies named Reason per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2024, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Reason's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 |
| 1910s | 0 | 13 |
| 1920s | 0 | 13 |
| 1930s | 0 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 21 |
| 2010s | 15 | 65 |
| 2020s | 51 | 137 |
Meaning & origin
Reason is a rare virtue name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1885, ranking 2991 that year. After a long period of obscurity, it has seen a revival since 2005, climbing in usage. Despite its low overall rank (2991 in 2025), the name's recent trajectory suggests a growing appeal among parents seeking distinctive abstract names. With an estimated 1 in 41660 newborns receiving the name, Reason remains highly uncommon but culturally resonant, evoking clear thinking and rationality. Its history as a Puritan virtue name and its modern resurgence align with broader naming trends favoring word names.
Reason derives from the Old French 'raison' and Latin 'ratio,' meaning 'rationality' or 'cause.' It emerged as a given name in the English-speaking world during the Puritan era, when virtue names like Patience and Prudence were common, though Reason remained rare. Its use in the 1880s and recent revival reflects a broader trend of abstract word names.
Sibling names for Reason
Names that share Reason's style, for a brother or sister.
