75+ *Cute* Boy Names That Start with R

Searching for modern baby boy names that start with r, but tired of coming up empty? Search ends here, mama – I’m a boy mom myself and I’ve hand-picked *these* r boy names that I just know you’re going to love –

Country Boy Names That Start with R

Check out these country boy names starting with R—they’ve got that perfect rustic vibe!

Rhett

• Origin: Dutch (anglicized surname)
• Pronunciation: RET · ˈrɛt
• Meaning: advice or counsel, from a Dutch surname (de Raedt)
• Popularity: #174 and falling (#165 → #174, 2024)

Redding

• Origin: English (surname/place name, variant of Reading)
• Pronunciation: RED-ing · ˈrɛdɪŋ
• Meaning: linked to Reading, from Old English for ‘people of Reada’ (the red one)
• Popularity: #4,828 and falling (#4,085 → #4,828, 2024)

Ryatt

• Origin: modern coinage (no attested etymology)
• Pronunciation: RY-at · ˈraɪət
• Meaning: from the island’s meadow
• Popularity: #754 and rising (#914 → #754, 2024)

Redford

• Origin: English (place name)
• Pronunciation: RED-furd · ˈrɛdfərd
• Meaning: ford with dirty or peat-stained water
• Popularity: #5,821 and rising (#7,634 → #5,821, 2024)

Reid

• Origin: Scottish/English (surname, from Older Scots ‘reid’)
• Pronunciation: REED · ˈriːd
• Meaning: red-haired or ruddy-complexioned
• Popularity: #300 and rising (#315 → #300, 2024)

Ridge

• Origin: English (topographic surname)
• Pronunciation: RIJ · ˈrɪdʒ
• Meaning: a long, raised strip of land or hilltop
• Popularity: #528 and falling (#505 → #528, 2024)

Riley

• Origin: English (also anglicized Irish surname ‘Reilly’)
• Pronunciation: RY-lee · ˈraɪli
• Meaning: a rye clearing or meadow (English); separately, an anglicized form of the Irish surname Reilly
• Popularity: #229 and falling (#223 → #229, 2024)

Ripp

• Origin: German/Dutch/English (surname)
• Pronunciation: RIP · ˈrɪp
• Meaning: as a German/Dutch surname, short for ‘Rippert’ (elements meaning roughly ‘powerful’ and ‘bright/famous’); as an English surname, tied to a riverbank or ridge — not related to the verb ‘to rip’
• Popularity: #2,249 and falling (#1,844 → #2,249, 2024)

Rook

• Origin: Old English/Germanic
• Pronunciation: ROOK · ˈrʊk
• Meaning: refers to the rook, a crow-family bird
• Popularity: #2,384 and falling (#2,091 → #2,384, 2024)

Rory

• Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic
• Pronunciation: ROR-ee · ˈrɔːri
• Meaning: red king
• Popularity: #226 and rising (#242 → #226, 2024)

Redd

• Origin: English (nickname, from ‘red’)
• Pronunciation: RED · ˈrɛd
• Meaning: red, likely referencing red or ruddy hair
• Popularity: #9,646 and falling (#7,196 → #9,646, 2024)

Ryker

• Origin: English (surname, further origin unattested)
• Pronunciation: RY-ker · ˈraɪkər
• Meaning: rich
• Popularity: #183 and rising (#184 → #183, 2024)

Ryland

• Origin: English (Old English ryge ‘rye’ + land ‘land’)
• Pronunciation: RY-lund · ˈraɪlənd
• Meaning: land planted with rye
• Popularity: #729 and falling (#703 → #729, 2024)

Ryle

• Origin: uncertain (English, likely surname-derived)
• Pronunciation: RYL · ˈraɪl
• Meaning: from the rye clearing
• Popularity: #4,153 and falling (#3,860 → #4,153, 2024)

Earthy Boy Names That Start with R

How about some earthy boy names starting with R? These names are all about nature and simplicity.

River

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: RIV-er · ˈrɪvər
• Meaning: a naturally flowing body of water
• Popularity: #112 and rising (#116 → #112, 2024)

Roscoe

• Origin: English (place name of Old Norse origin)
• Pronunciation: ROS-koh · ˈrɑːskoʊ
• Meaning: deer forest / roebuck wood
• Popularity: #2,180 and rising (#2,267 → #2,180, 2024)

Rudy

• Origin: German (pet form of Rudolph)
• Pronunciation: ROO-dee · ˈruːdi
• Meaning: famous wolf (as a diminutive of Rudolph)
• Popularity: #822 and rising (#830 → #822, 2024)

Rowley

• Origin: Old English (place name)
• Pronunciation: ROH-lee · ˈroʊli
• Meaning: rough or overgrown clearing
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Reef

• Origin: English (word name)
• Pronunciation: REEF · ˈriːf
• Meaning: a ridge of rock or coral near the water’s surface
• Popularity: #2,584 and falling (#2,141 → #2,584, 2024)

Hipster Boy Names That Start with R

If you’re into that hipster vibe, you’ll love these boy names starting with R—they’ve got all the quirky charm you need.

Remington

• Origin: English (place name/surname: Old English ‘rima’ + ‘-ing’ + ‘-tun’)
• Pronunciation: REM-ing-tun · ˈrɛmɪŋtən
• Meaning: settlement by the border or edge
• Popularity: #287 and falling (#283 → #287, 2024)

Raine

• Origin: English (surname, from a Raymond-type given name)
• Pronunciation: RAYN · ˈreɪn
• Meaning: queen
• Popularity: #4,388 and falling (#3,609 → #4,388, 2024)

Remy

• Origin: French
• Pronunciation: REM-ee · ˈrɛmi
• Meaning: oarsman, from Latin Remigius
• Popularity: #400 and falling (#390 → #400, 2024)

Rider

• Origin: English (surname)
• Pronunciation: RY-der · ˈraɪdər
• Meaning: primarily ‘one who rides’ (a horseman or messenger); the surname also has alternate roots (a land-clearer, a dweller by a small stream) or is an anglicized German ‘Reiter’/Irish ‘Ó Marcaigh’, both also meaning ‘rider’
• Popularity: #4,284 and rising (#4,709 → #4,284, 2024)

Rigby

• Origin: Old Norse/English
• Pronunciation: RIG-bee · ˈrɪgbi
• Meaning: a ridge settlement or farm (Old Norse ‘ridge’ + the Scandinavian place-name suffix ‘-by’, farm/settlement, as in Whitby)
• Popularity: #4,995 and rising (#5,022 → #4,995, 2024)

Ronan

• Origin: Irish
• Pronunciation: ROH-nun · ˈroʊnən
• Meaning: little seal
• Popularity: #257 and rising (#290 → #257, 2024)

Modern Boy Names That Start with R

Looking for something more up-to-date? Here are some cool, modern boy names starting with R that I think you’ll love.

Rome

• Origin: place name (Latin Roma, via Old English Rom)
• Pronunciation: ROHM · ˈroʊm
• Meaning: refers to the city of Rome; as a given name it’s a direct transfer of the place name
• Popularity: #453 and rising (#517 → #453, 2024)

Rhodes

• Origin: English/Greek (dual origin)
• Pronunciation: ROHDZ · ˈroʊdz
• Meaning: as an English surname, ‘one who lived near a woodland clearing’; also the Greek island Rhodes, whose own name origin is uncertain
• Popularity: #613 and rising (#707 → #613, 2024)

Riggs

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: RIGZ · ˈrɪgz
• Meaning: a topographic surname for someone who lived by a ridge (‘rigg’/’ridge’ + possessive ‘-s’)
• Popularity: #668 and rising (#733 → #668, 2024)

Reeves

• Origin: English (surname, multiple possible origins)
• Pronunciation: REEVZ · ˈriːvz
• Meaning: occupational ‘steward/bailiff’ root (via Reeve + non-meaningful -s); competing topographic and Irish origins also documented
• Popularity: #2,178 and rising (#3,536 → #2,178, 2024)

Popular Boy Names That Start with R

Looking for a name that’s trending? These popular boy names starting with R are the top picks right now.

Roman

• Origin: Latin (via Old French)
• Pronunciation: ROH-mun · ˈroʊmən
• Meaning: belonging to or hailing from the city of Rome
• Popularity: #52 and rising (#66 → #52, 2024)

Rowan

• Origin: Irish
• Pronunciation: ROH-en · ˈroʊən
• Meaning: little red one
• Popularity: #71 and rising (#76 → #71, 2024)

Robert

• Origin: Germanic (via Old French/Anglo-Norman)
• Pronunciation: RAH-burt · ˈrɑːbərt
• Meaning: renowned and bright, from Germanic elements meaning ‘fame’ and ‘bright’
• Popularity: #90 and falling (#89 → #90, 2024)

Tough Boy Names That Start with R

Searching for a strong, rugged name? Check out these tough boy names starting with R—they’re perfect for a little warrior.

Reilly

• Origin: Irish (surname, Ó Raghallaigh, ‘descendants of Raghallach’)
• Pronunciation: RY-lee · ˈraɪli
• Meaning: courageous
• Popularity: #2,816 and falling (#2,427 → #2,816, 2024)

Reign

• Origin: English (via Old French, ultimately Latin regnum/regere)
• Pronunciation: RAYN · ˈreɪn
• Meaning: royal rule; to reign as sovereign
• Popularity: #624 and rising (#625 → #624, 2024)

Rockwell

• Origin: English (surname/place name)
• Pronunciation: ROK-wel · ˈrɑːkwɛl
• Meaning: rocky spring or well
• Popularity: #2,049 and rising (#2,170 → #2,049, 2024)

Ryder

• Origin: English (occupational surname)
• Pronunciation: RY-der · ˈraɪdər
• Meaning: rider or cavalryman, from the occupational surname for one who rides
• Popularity: #134 and falling (#128 → #134, 2024)

Ridger

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: RIJ-er · ˈrɪdʒər
• Meaning: the one who lives on the ridge
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Unique Boy Names That Start with R

Got any ideas for unique boy names starting with R? I’ve got some really one-of-a-kind options you might like!

Reuben

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: ROO-bin · ˈruːbɪn
• Meaning: behold, a son! (reu + ben)
• Popularity: #874 and falling (#811 → #874, 2024)

Rio

• Origin: Spanish/Portuguese
• Pronunciation: REE-oh · ˈriːoʊ
• Meaning: river
• Popularity: #516 and rising (#570 → #516, 2024)

Roth

• Origin: German (surname)
• Pronunciation: ROHTH · ˈroʊθ
• Meaning: red, red-haired
• Popularity: #11,908 as of 2010 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ramsey

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: RAM-zee · ˈræmzi
• Meaning: wild garlic island
• Popularity: #1,757 and falling (#1,721 → #1,757, 2024)

Royal

• Origin: English
• Pronunciation: ROY-al · ˈrɔɪəl
• Meaning: royal, kingly
• Popularity: #427 and falling (#401 → #427, 2024)

Vintage Boy Names That Start with R

Into the classics? These vintage boy names starting with R have a timeless appeal that never goes out of style.

Romeo

• Origin: Italian (from Greek Ῥωμαῖος)
• Pronunciation: ROH-mee-oh · ˈroʊmioʊ
• Meaning: Roman citizen / pilgrim to Rome
• Popularity: #283 and rising (#292 → #283, 2024)

Roosevelt

• Origin: Dutch (surname, transferred to given-name use)
• Pronunciation: ROH-zuh-velt · ˈroʊzəvɛlt
• Meaning: rose field (or possibly ‘rush field’)
• Popularity: #4,150 and falling (#3,778 → #4,150, 2024)

Redmond

• Origin: Irish (Anglicized surname, Mac Réamoinn, ‘son of Raymond’)
• Pronunciation: RED-muhnd · ˈrɛdmənd
• Meaning: descendant of Raymond
• Popularity: #6,091 and falling (#3,970 → #6,091, 2024)

Raleigh

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: RAW-lee · ˈrɔːli
• Meaning: roe deer clearing
• Popularity: #2,273 and falling (#2,120 → #2,273, 2024)

Rex

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: REKS · ˈrɛks
• Meaning: king
• Popularity: #794 and falling (#723 → #794, 2024)

Roderick

• Origin: Germanic (also anglicizes Gaelic Ruairidh and Welsh Rhydderch)
• Pronunciation: ROD-er-ik · ˈrɑːdərɪk
• Meaning: famous ruler
• Popularity: #1,909 and rising (#1,923 → #1,909, 2024)

Roy

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Pronunciation: ROY · ˈrɔɪ
• Meaning: red, red-haired
• Popularity: #541 and rising (#556 → #541, 2024)

Russell

• Origin: Anglo-Norman/Old French (surname)
• Pronunciation: RUSS-el · ˈrʌsəl
• Meaning: little red-haired one
• Popularity: #367 and rising (#393 → #367, 2024)

More Names We Love

Rafael

• Origin: Hebrew (via Spanish/Portuguese form of Raphael)
• Pronunciation: rah-fah-EL · rɑːfɑːˈɛl
• Meaning: God has healed
• Popularity: #222 and rising (#231 → #222, 2024)

Richard

• Origin: Germanic
• Pronunciation: RICH-urd · ˈrɪtʃərd
• Meaning: a Germanic compound combining elements for ‘ruler/power’ and ‘hardy, brave, strong’ — traditionally rendered ‘brave/strong ruler’
• Popularity: #232 and falling (#221 → #232, 2024)

Rhys

• Origin: Welsh
• Pronunciation: REES · ˈriːs
• Meaning: enthusiasm, ardor
• Popularity: #354 and falling (#353 → #354, 2024)

Raymond

• Origin: Germanic (Frankish/Old High German)
• Pronunciation: RAY-mund · ˈreɪmənd
• Meaning: protection through wise counsel
• Popularity: #379 and falling (#360 → #379, 2024)

Rodrigo

• Origin: Spanish (from Gothic/Germanic)
• Pronunciation: roh-DREE-goh · roʊˈdriːgoʊ
• Meaning: famous ruler
• Popularity: #481 and rising (#497 → #481, 2024)

Ronnie

• Origin: Scottish/English (short form)
• Pronunciation: RAH-nee · ˈrɑːni
• Meaning: short form of Ronald (‘wise ruler’) or of names like Veronica
• Popularity: #995 and rising (#1,108 → #995, 2024)

Ralph

• Origin: Old English / Germanic
• Pronunciation: RALF · rælf
• Meaning: wolf counsel
• Popularity: #1,152 and rising (#1,196 → #1,152, 2024)

Reginald

• Origin: Germanic (via Latin)
• Pronunciation: REJ-i-nuhld · ˈrɛdʒɪnəld
• Meaning: counsel combined with rule or power, from Germanic elements
• Popularity: #1,178 and falling (#1,107 → #1,178, 2024)

Radley

• Origin: Old English (place name/surname)
• Pronunciation: RAD-lee · ˈrædli
• Meaning: red clearing/meadow (rēad ‘red’ + lēah ‘wood, clearing’)
• Popularity: #1,583 and rising (#1,781 → #1,583, 2024)

Randall

• Origin: English (from Germanic, via Randolph)
• Pronunciation: RAN-duhl · ˈrændəl
• Meaning: shield wolf
• Popularity: #1,612 and falling (#1,267 → #1,612, 2024)

Rudolph

• Origin: Germanic
• Pronunciation: ROO-dahlf · ˈruːdɑːlf
• Meaning: famous wolf
• Popularity: #3,436 and rising (#4,713 → #3,436, 2024)

Rupert

• Origin: German/Germanic (English form of Ruprecht, related to Robert)
• Pronunciation: ROO-pert · ˈruːpərt
• Meaning: shining renown
• Popularity: #3,863 and rising (#4,192 → #3,863, 2024)

Rufus

• Origin: Latin
• Pronunciation: ROO-fuhs · ˈruːfəs
• Meaning: red, ruddy (often used to describe red hair)
• Popularity: #4,151 and rising (#5,205 → #4,151, 2024)

Rolland

• Origin: Germanic (spelling variant of Roland)
• Pronunciation: ROH-luhnd · ˈroʊlənd
• Meaning: famous land
• Popularity: #4,831 and falling (#4,312 → #4,831, 2024)

Rosario

• Origin: Spanish/Italian (from Latin rosarium via Marian devotion)
• Pronunciation: roh-SAH-ree-oh · roʊˈsɑːrioʊ
• Meaning: rosary
• Popularity: #5,001 and falling (#3,691 → #5,001, 2024)

Rafferty

• Origin: Irish (Ó Rabhartaigh surname)
• Pronunciation: RAF-ur-tee · ˈræfərti
• Meaning: descendant of Rabhartach, a name rooted in the word for flood or spring tide
• Popularity: #5,182 and rising (#5,611 → #5,182, 2024)

Rasmus

• Origin: Greek (short form of Erasmus, used in Scandinavia)
• Pronunciation: RAZ-muhs · ˈræzməs
• Meaning: dearly loved
• Popularity: #5,380 and rising (#8,118 → #5,380, 2024)

Ruairi

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Pronunciation: ROO-ree · ˈruːri
• Meaning: red king
• Popularity: #6,730 and rising (#8,140 → #6,730, 2024)

Rachamim

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: rah-khah-MEEM · ʁaxaˈmim
• Meaning: mercy, compassion
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rutger

• Origin: Dutch (from Germanic Hrōþigaizaz, via German Rüdiger)
• Pronunciation: RUT-gur · ˈrʌtgər
• Meaning: renowned spear
• Popularity: #13,708 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rupinder

• Origin: Punjabi (Sanskrit-derived)
• Pronunciation: roo-PIN-dur · ruːˈpɪndər
• Meaning: compound of rup (‘beauty, form’) and the common Punjabi suffix -inder (from Indra, ‘lord’), roughly ‘lord of beauty’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ramdas

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: RAHM-dahs · ˈraːmdaːs
• Meaning: devotee or servant of the god Rama
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Randeep

• Origin: Punjabi (Sanskrit-derived)
• Pronunciation: RAHN-deep · ˈrəndiːp
• Meaning: lamp or light of the battlefield
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Roshanjot

• Origin: Persian + Punjabi (Sanskrit) compound
• Pronunciation: roh-shuhn-JOHT · roʊʃənˈdʒoʊt
• Meaning: shining or radiant light
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Radomir

• Origin: Slavic
• Pronunciation: RAH-doh-meer · ˈradomiːr
• Meaning: able warrior (older root); popularly reread as ‘glad and peaceful’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Risteárd

• Origin: Irish (Gaelicized form of Germanic Richard)
• Pronunciation: RISH-tahrd · ˈɾˠɪʃtʲaːɾˠd̪ˠ
• Meaning: brave/strong ruler
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ruadhán

• Origin: Irish (Old Irish)
• Pronunciation: ROO-ahn · ˈruːɑːn
• Meaning: little red one
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rajnish

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Pronunciation: rahj-NEESH · rɑːdʒˈniːʃ
• Meaning: lord of the night (a poetic epithet for the moon)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ryusei

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ryoo-SAY · ɾʲɯːseː
• Meaning: shooting star
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ryuu

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: RYOO · ɾʲɯː
• Meaning: dragon
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

How These Names Are Trending

35 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 30 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

35 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 30 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

35 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 30 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

24 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 23 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

24 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 23 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

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Wrapping Up

So there you have it—a whole bunch of boy names starting with R, whether you’re into something unique, hipster, popular, earthy, vintage, or tough. Hopefully, this list helps you find a name that feels just right for your little one. Happy naming!

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