Reid as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Reid

What is the meaning of the name Reid ?

The baby name Reid is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /riːd/ (reed).

Reid is in Origin.

Reid is a Scottish and English surname turned given name, rooted in Old English "read" and Scots/Scottish Gaelic "ruadh," both meaning red or ruddy. It began as a descriptive byname for someone with red hair or a flushed complexion. In Scotland and Ulster, the spelling Reid was established by the late Middle Ages; cognate surnames include Read, Reade, and Reed (the last also overlapping with the reed plant as a separate origin).

As a given name in the English-speaking world, Reid appears from the 19th century with the vogue for adopting surnames as first names, and rose further in late-20th-century use for its crisp, minimalist sound. Usage is chiefly masculine but sometimes unisex. Common variants are Reed (the principal alternate in North America) and Read/Reade (rarer, archaic). The core meaning remains “red-haired; ruddy,” often linked to vigor, warmth, and straightforward character; nicknames are uncommon.