The first name Red
A boy’s name.
1 syllable Male Also a surname
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
Red last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 4 boys. It peaked in 2012, with 10 births (#2,117).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Red with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Red at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 15 boys born in the United States were named Red, the 6,075th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 18 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Red
19 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- 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 HolzmanAmerican basketball player and coach (1920-1998)
- Red KellyCanadian ice hockey player and coach (1927-2019)
- Red FoleyAmerican country musician (1910–1968)
- Red NicholsAmerican jazz musician (1905–1965)
- Red NorvoAmerican musician (1908–1999)
- Red SchoendienstAmerican baseball player and coach (1923–2018)
- Red Faber(1888-1976) American baseball player and coach
- Red RuffingAmerican baseball player and coach (1905–1986)
Questions
- How popular is the name Red?
- In 2024, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Red, ranking 4,270th. Its peak was 2012, with 10 births.
- Is Red a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 396 US babies named Red since 1880 were boys.
- When was Red most popular?
- 2024 in the United States, when 18 babies were named Red, its highest rank at 5,395th.
- Is Red also a surname?
- Yes. Red is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.