Namewise

Names beginning with R

Every name in Namewise's catalogue whose recorded spelling begins with R, listed alphabetically. Names are grouped by the spelling a registrar published, so a name spelled differently in another country appears under that spelling's own letter.

1,023 names beginning with "R"

Full profile: deeper editorial detail. Official popularity record: sourced statistical evidence, editorial detail not yet written. Name identity record: exists in the catalogue with limited current evidence. Namewise is expanding editorial depth over time.

Rebecca

female

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Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together.

Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka
Ruby

female

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Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century.

English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')
Rían

male

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Ryan

male

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The Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, a patronymic from the given name Rian. The exact meaning of Rian itself remains uncertain, despite a popular but unconfirmed 'little king' gloss.

Irish (surname origin)
Rune

male

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Robert

male

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From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce.

Germanic
Rachel

female

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Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel
Rory

male

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Red king.

Scottish and Irish Gaelic
Riley

male

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An Irish surname (variant of Reilly) or an English surname meaning 'rye clearing' — its use as a first name is relatively modern, dating from the 1980s-90s.

Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition
Robyn

female

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A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert.

Germanic, feminine diminutive form
Randi

female

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Richard

male

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From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.

Germanic
Rosie

female

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Rolf

male

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Renee

female

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The English form of Renée, from Latin roots meaning 'reborn' — a name signifying spiritual rebirth.

Latin ('reborn'), reaching English through the French Renée
Ronny

male

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Raymond

male

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Roisin

female

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A diminutive form commonly interpreted as 'little rose', from Irish rós ('rose', ultimately of Latin origin) plus a diminutive suffix.

Irish
Rodney

male

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Reidun

female

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Roger

male

Official popularity record

Ragnhild

female

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Ronan

male

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Traditionally interpreted as 'little seal'.

Irish
Rhonda

female

Official popularity record

Showing 24 of 60 names on this page.