Reef

At a Glance: Name: Reef – Meaning: a ridge of rock or coral near the water's surface – Origin: English (word name) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: REEF

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Reef is a modern word name for a boy or girl, taken directly from the English word for a ridge of rock or coral near the water's surface. It's pronounced REEF, straightforward and easy to say. As a word name, its meaning is exactly what it sounds like — no hidden history to trace.

Meaning & Origin of Reef

Meaning: A ridge of rock or coral near the water's surface.

Origin: English (word name).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Reef

Phonetic: REEF   IPA: /ˈriːf/

Popularity of Reef

In 2024, 52 babies were named Reef, putting it at #2584 nationally. That's down from its high point in 2021, when 81 babies received the name and it ranked #1898.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1996–2024.

Make Reef Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Reef, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Adley
• Arden
• Arrow
• Ash
• Bay
• Bear

FAQ

What does the name Reef mean?

A ridge of rock or coral near the water’s surface. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reef)

How do you pronounce Reef?

Reef is pronounced REEF (IPA: /ˈriːf/).

Is Reef a popular name right now?

Reef peaked at #1898 in 2021 and is ranked #2584 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1996–2024.)

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