Declining since 1993, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Reba since 1880
Babies named Reba per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1925, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Reba's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 224 |
| 1890s | 841 |
| 1900s | 1,493 |
| 1910s | 5,082 |
| 1920s | 7,312 |
| 1930s | 6,188 |
| 1940s | 4,847 |
| 1950s | 4,138 |
| 1960s | 2,175 |
| 1970s | 737 |
| 1980s | 658 |
| 1990s | 1,138 |
| 2000s | 293 |
| 2010s | 187 |
| 2020s | 118 |
Meaning & origin
Reba has seen a steady decline in usage since its peak popularity in 1915. Though it reached its highest rank that year, it fell out of favor by the 1930s and has continued to decline, especially since 1993. The name is extremely uncommon today, with a rank of 10107 in 2025 and a frequency of 1 in 178,585 births. It is a short, straightforward name that may appeal to parents seeking a vintage-sounding name with a strong consonant start.
Reba likely originated as a diminutive of Rebecca, a Hebrew name meaning 'to bind' or 'to tie.' Rebecca appears in the Old Testament as the wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. As an independent name, Reba gained modest use in the late 19th century, perhaps influenced by the American actress Reba (born as Mary) in the early 1900s.
Where Reba is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Reba
Names that share Reba's style, for a brother or sister.
