Looking for a name beginning with R for your baby girl or baby boy? We don’t blame you - R names are rather lovely, aren’t they? Rarer than others, such as names beginning with A, any baby with a name beginning with R may well be the only one with an R name on their class register at school. And let’s face it, it’s always nice to be a bit different.
Pregnant? Get week-by-week updates to your inbox Subscribe now
There are some fantastic names beginning with R for girls and boys, from the fragrant Rose for girls to the regal Rex (which literally means ‘king’). So let’s dive deeper into the world of baby names beginning with R.
How we chose the top names beginning with R
As we always do when compiling baby name articles, we first checked out the official baby name stats to find out the most popular names beginning with r. These include figures from the ONS (for names in England and Wales), the National Records of Scotland, Central Statistics Office for the Republic of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
We also scoured other Mumsnet baby names articles including the most popular baby names, top boy names, top girl names and top gender-neutral names.
And, of course, we double checked the opinions of parents on our Baby Names forum to find out what they thought of certain names beginning with the letter R.
Here’s our round-up of the best baby names beginning with R.
Girl names beginning with R
1. Rachel
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Ewe
2. Radhika
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Prosperous
3. Rae
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Ewe
4. Raine (or Rain)
Origin: English
Meaning: Rain or queen
5. Rani
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Queen or sovereign
6. Raya
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Friend
7. Rebecca (or Rebekah)
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: To tie or to bind
8. Reeva
Origin: French
Meaning: Riverbank
9. Renée
Origin: French
Meaning: Born again
10. Rhian
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Maiden
11. Rhiannon
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Great/divine queen, goddess
12. Rhona (or Rona)
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Mighty
13. Rielle
Origin: Hebrew, English (derived from Gabrielle)
Meaning: God is my strength
14. Rina
Origin: Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit
Meaning: Song, joy, beloved, peace, pure or melted
15. Rita
Origin: Spanish, Italian
Meaning: Pearl
16. Rivka (variant of Rebecca)
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: To tie or bind together
17. Riya
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Singer
18. Roberta
Origin: English
Meaning: Bright
19. Rochelle
Origin: French
Meaning: Small rock
20. Rois
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Rose
21. Róisín
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Little rose
22. Romilly (or Romily)
Origin: French
Meaning: Citizen of Rome
23. Romy (originally a diminutive of Rosemary)
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Dew of the sea
24. Roux
Origin: French
Meaning: Red
25. Rosa
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Referring to the rose flower
26. Rosalie
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose or gentle horse
27. Rosalind
Origin: German
Meaning: Rose or tender horse
28. Rosaline
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Little rose
29. Rosamaria
Origin: Spanish, Latin (variant of Rosemary)
Meaning: Dew of the sea, bitter, beloved or grace
30. Rosamund
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose flower
31. Rosanna
Origin: Latin, English
Meaning: Graceful rose
32. Rose
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Rose flower
33. Rosemary
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Drop or star of the sea or the herb
34. Rosie (or Rosy)
Origin: English
Meaning: From a rose
35. Roxanne (Roxie for short)
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bright, shining
36. Ruby
Origin: Latin
Meaning: From the gemstone
37. Rue
Origin: English and Greek
Meaning: Herb, regret
38. Rula
Origin: Latin, Arabic
Meaning: Model, pattern or leader
39. Rumer
Origin: English
Meaning: Rumour or gossip
40. Rumi
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Peaceful or flower
41. Ruth
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Companion
What Mumsnetters say about girl names beginning with R
“Rosanna? This is one of my favourite names and if we ever have another baby girl, I would want this name I think.” - Mumsnet user, BallsToYouSue
“Ruth is a lovely and classic name! It is one of my favourite names.” - Mumsnet user, SkaneTos
Boy names beginning with R
42. Rafe
Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Counsel of the wolf
43. Rafferty
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Abundance or prosperous
44. Raiden
Japanese
Thunder and god spirit
45. Rainier
Origin: French
Meaning: Strong counsellor
46. Rajat
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Silver
47. Ralph
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Wolf counsel
48. Randall (Randal)
Origin: Old German
Meaning: Wolf shield
49. Randolf (Randolph)
Origin: Old German
Meaning: Wolf shield
50. Raoul
Origin: French
Meaning: Wolf counsel
51. Raphael
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God has healed
52. Rayden
Origin: English, American
Meaning: Wise, advice, counsel
53. Raymond (Ray)
Origin: German
Meaning: Wise protector
54. Reagan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Little king
55. Reed (or Reid)
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Red-haired
56. Reggie
Origin: English
Meaning: Rule
57. Ren
Origin: Chinese
Meaning: Benevolent
58. Reuben
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Behold, a son
59. Rex
Origin: Latin
Meaning: King
60. Rhett
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Passionate
61. Rhodri
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Wheel ruler
62. Rhun
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Secret
63. Rhydian
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Ford, river
64. Rían (or Rián/ Rian)
Origin: Irish
Meaning: King
65. Riccardo
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Brave ruler
66. Richard
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Wolf counsel
67. Riku
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Land
68. Rio
Origin: Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese
Meaning: River, village or centre
69. Ríordán
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Meaning: Royal poet
70. Rishi
Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Sage
71. Risto
Origin: Finnish
Meaning: Christ-bearer
72. Roan
Origin: Scottish, Irish, Dutch
Meaning: Seal or a short form of the name Roeland, which means ‘famous land’
73. Robert
Origin: German
Meaning: Famous
74. Roberto
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Bright fame
75. Rocco
Origin: Italian
Meaning: Rest
76. Rohan
Origin: Irish, Hindi
Meaning: Sandalwood
77. Rollo
Origin: German, Estonian
Meaning: Wolf
78. Roman
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Of Rome
79. Ronan
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Meaning: Little seal
80. Ronnie
Origin: English
Meaning: Ruler's counsellor
81. Rory
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Red king
82. Roscoe
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: Deer forest
83. Ross
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Promontory, headland, rose-coloured, wood
84. Rourke (or Rorke)
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Red
85. Royce
Origin: French
Meaning: Rose
86. Ruairí
Origin: Irish Gaelic
Meaning: Red king
87. Rudolf (or Rudolph)
Origin: German
Meaning: Wolf shield or famous wolf
88. Rudy
Origin: German
Meaning: Wolf shield or famous wolf
89. Rufus
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Red-haired
90. Rune
Origin: Old Norse, Germanic
Meaning: Secret
91. Rupert
Origin: German
Meaning: Famous
92. Russell
Origin: Old English, old French
Meaning: Little red one or red-haired
93. Ryan
Origin: Irish
Meaning: King
94. Ryder
Origin: English
Meaning: Mounted warrior
95. Rylan
Origin: English
Meaning: Land where rye is grown
96. Ryo
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Refreshing, cool
What Mumsnetters say about boy names beginning with R
“R names? Rufus, Roman, Rowan, Rohan. There's too many nice ones!” Mumsnet user, TankGirl97
“I like it (Roscoe). Reminds me of Roscoe Mitchell. I also like Rafe, which I feel has a similar feel.” Noodlesnoodlesnoodles
Gender-neutral names beginning with R
97. Radley
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Red meadow
98. Raven
Origin: English
Meaning: Bird raven
99. Remi (or Remy)
Origin: French, Nigerian
Meaning: Rower, God consoles me
100. Rhys (or Reece/Reese)
Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Enthusiasm or ardour
101. Ritchie
Origin: English
Meaning: Strong or brave ruler
102. Rickie (or Ricky)
Origin: English
Meaning: Strong or brave ruler
103. Riley
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Courageous or valiant
104. River
Origin: English
Meaning: A body of flowing water
105. Robbie
Origin: English (diminutive of Robert/Robert/Robin or Robyn)
Meaning: Bright fame
106. Robin (Robyn)
Origin: English
Meaning: Bright fame
107. Rowan
Origin: Irish/Scottish
Meaning: Little redhead
108. Rui
Origin: Chinese, Japanese
Meaning: Sharp, Beauty or depth
109. Rumi
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Peaceful or flow
110. Ryder
Origin: Old English
Horseman or rider
What Mumsnetters say about gender-neutral baby names beginning with R
“My friend's DD is called Raven, it is a very pretty name.” - Mumsnet user, YouWereGr8InLittleMenstruators
“I know a female Rowan and female Robin.” - Mumsnet user, Sewaccidentprone
How to choose a baby name beginning with R
If you want to choose a popular baby name, check out the official top baby names lists, which all contain several names beginning with R. Look at ONS for names in England and Wales, the National Records of Scotland, Central Statistics Office for Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk) for Northern Ireland.
Look for names beginning with R in Mumsnet’s other baby names articles including most popular baby names, boy names and girl names.
Check what other parents and parents-to-be are saying about names beginning with R in Mumsnet’s Baby Names forum.
Say ‘oui oui’ to French baby names. There are beaucoup de lovely French names beginning with R, including Reeva, Renée, Remi, Remy and Rochelle and Rainier.
Take inspiration from nature-themed names beginning with r - how about Rain, Robyn, Robin or River?
Short, snappy names are a hot naming trend right now. Consider Ruby, Rafe and Rex, which all fit the bill.
What is the best girls’ name that starts with R?
The most popular girls’ name starting with R is a fragrant and enduring classic. Adore the name Rosie? You’re not alone. This beautiful flower name for baby girls is at number 11 in the ONS top 100 list, which means lots of other parents love it too.
If you’d like a rose-themed name which is slightly less well-used, the name Rose stands at number 68 in the ONS list. Rose can also be used as a springboard to other sweet-smelling naming possibilities.
There are many other stunning names which stem (pun intended) from it. Some more unusual Rose offshoot names, which we’ve included in our round-up of best names beginning with R, include: Rosalie, Rosanna, Rosalind, Rosaline, Rosamaria, Rosamund, Rois and Róisín.
What is the best boys’ name that starts with R?
One of the most popular names for boys beginning with R is Rory, a short and striking Irish name which stands at number 38 in the ONS for names in England and Wales, at number 6 the National Records of Scotland list, at number 34 in the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk) for Northern Ireland and at number 74 in the Central Statistics Office list for Republic of Ireland.
The name Rory is a variant on the traditional Gaelic spelling Ruairí and other spelling variations include Ruaidrhí, Rhuari, Roary and Rorey. With the meaning ‘red king’ you couldn’t choose a more regal name for your very own little prince.
What is a rare R name?
A rare R name for girls, Rue is a French baby name currently outside the top 1000 in the ONS chart. It is, however, rising steadily in popularity, possibly being chosen by parents who love the girl name Ruby (currently at number 30 in the ONS list) and want something which sounds similar but is less well-used.
If you’re looking for a rare but stylish name for your little boy, how about Roscoe? Currently standing outside the top 500 in the ONS list for England and Wales, it’s undeniably unusual but sounds fashionable and modern because it jumps on the ‘two syllable names ending with o’ trend (think Arlo and Milo). It also sounds like the more popular Rocco, which is outside the top 100.
The gender-neutral name Remy (Remi is an alternative spelling) is a good example of a previously rare baby naming choice which suddenly finds itself in favour with new parents. This unisex name, with roots in both France and Nigeria, hits the short, cute name trend, as it’s made up of just four letters and two syllables. While it doesn’t yet appear in any of the official ‘most popular’ lists, both spellings of the name have grown dramatically in popularity for both boys and girls. For example, for boys, Remy ranked at 148 in 2021, having risen sharply in popularity in England and Wales since 2017 (to put it into context, it was at 898 in 1996. For girls, the Remi spelling is more popular and has zoomed up to 174, from 484 in 1996. Mumsnet user, MamaBear54321 says: “It’s such a gorgeous name and gender-neutral too.”
About the author
Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet.
Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.
Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP.
For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby.
By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.