Read: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	20	2	–	#3,189
1920s	16	2	-20%	#4,250
1930s	18	2	+12%	#2,807
1940s	42	4	+133%	#2,098
1950s	43	4	+2%	#2,699
1960s	27	3	-37%	#3,844
1970s	19	2	-30%	#4,675
1980s	29	3	+53%	#5,452
1990s	53	5	+83%	#6,195
2000s	31	3	-42%	#8,147
2010s	10	1	-68%	#13,607
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,189

1920s

-20%

#4,250

1930s

+12%

#2,807

1940s

+133%

#2,098

1950s

+2%

#2,699

1960s

-37%

#3,844

1970s

-30%

#4,675

1980s

+53%

#5,452

1990s

+83%

#6,195

2000s

-42%

#8,147

2010s

-68%

#13,607

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Read

Read is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1914, 308 American babies have been named Read. Its peak came in 1949, when 14 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Read stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Read?

The median living Read is about 41 years old; half are between 27 and 68. An estimated 200 people named Read are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Read year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	5	#13,607
2013	–	–
2012	5	#13,773
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	6	#12,042
2006	6	#11,732
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	6	#10,571
2002	5	#12,098
2001	8	#8,147
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	5	#9,195
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	7	#4,675
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	7	#3,438
1950	6	#3,606
1945	6	#3,248
1940	–	–
1935	5	#4,043
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	7	#3,330
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Read, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Read?

The median living Read is about 41 years old. Half of all living Reads are between 27 and 68 years old.

How many people named Read are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Read are alive in the United States, based on 308 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Read mean?

English and Scottish surname, variant of Reed.

How popular is the name Read in 2025?

Read did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Read?

308 babies have been named Read in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Read most popular?

Read peaked in 1949, when 14 newborns received the name.

Is Read a boy or girl name?

Read is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Read rising or falling?

Read is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Read

Read popularity over time

The story of Read

How old are people named Read?

Read year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Read