Given name & surname
Red
“a red-haired man”
Red is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “a red-haired man.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One American interpretation is “a red-haired man.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1888. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Red through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 396
- 396 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 18 babies
- 2025
- 15
- #6,075 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +48%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 15 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,075 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 48.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,003 as a first name in 2020; 2,033 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Red’s family of names
In English usage, Red shares a linguistic root with रोहित. Red has a related form in Reda. Red has a related form in Reade.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Red
- Red ButtonsAmerican comedian and actor (1919–2006)
- Red AuerbachAmerican basketball coach (1917–2006)
- Red SkeltonAmerican comedian (1913–1997)
- Red MitchellAmerican jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet (1927-1992)
- Red Amickracecar driver1929–1995
- Red KellyCanadian ice hockey player and coach (1927-2019)
- Red FoleyAmerican country musician (1910–1968)
- Red NorvoAmerican musician (1908–1999)
- Red NicholsAmerican jazz musician (1905–1965)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Red, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rev
“one who is distinct”
>99% boys
Reed
“a red-haired lady”
97% boys · 3% girls
Roam
“one who wanders, searches”
>99% boys
Wind
“moving air; windy”
>99% boys
Fenn
“an intelligent woman” · “from the marsh”
>99% boys
Rowdy
“a spirited woman” · “a boisterous man”
96% boys · 4% girls
Rocket
“one who is fast”
89% boys · 11% girls
Zeal
“one with passion; enthusiastic devotion” · “a passionate man”
96% boys · 4% girls