- Rhett Name Origin: English
- Pronunciation: ret
- See what 8 people think about Rhett
Rhett Name Meaning
The name Rhett is traditionally associated with strength and leadership. It is often seen as a name for a boy who is independent, brave, and confident. The name Rhett is of Germanic origin and derives from the Germanic name Ried. The name is thought to mean “ruler” or “king.”
Origins of the Name Rhett
The name Rhett has a long and varied history. It can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe and derived from the Germanic name Ried, which means “ruler” or “king.” The name was brought to America by English and Dutch settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In America, the name Rhett was popularized by the character of Rhett Butler in Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, Gone with the Wind. The character was based on a real historical figure, Major William Rhett, who was a privateer during the American Revolution.
Popularity of the Name Rhett
The name Rhett has remained popular in the United States since the publication of Gone with the Wind in 1936. It has consistently been in the top 100 baby names since the 1970s and remains popular to this day.
Final Thoughts on the Name Rhett
Rhett is a classic name with a long and varied history. It is a name associated with strength and leadership, and its popularity in the United States has endured for decades. Whether you are looking for a strong, traditional name for your son or simply want to honor a beloved literary character, Rhett is sure to make a great choice.
Rhett Name Popularity
How popular is the name Rhett? Here’s everything we know.
| Year | Rank | # Births | % Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1911 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1912 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1913 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1914 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1915 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1916 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1917 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1918 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1919 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1920 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1921 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1922 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1923 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1924 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1925 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1926 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1927 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1928 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1929 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1930 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1931 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1932 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1933 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1934 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1935 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1936 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1937 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1938 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1939 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1940 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1941 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1942 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1943 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1944 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1945 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1946 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1947 | 1,364 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1949 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1950 | 1,311 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | — | 0 | 0% |
| 1952 | 1,583 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | 1,051 | 17 | 0.001% |
| 1954 | 1,255 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | 966 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | 971 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1957 | 1,170 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | 876 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1959 | 1,049 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1960 | 892 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1961 | 774 | 56 | 0.003% |
| 1962 | 797 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1963 | 777 | 54 | 0.003% |
| 1964 | 795 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1965 | 910 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1966 | 779 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1967 | 836 | 37 | 0.0024% |
| 1968 | 718 | 64 | 0.0043% |
| 1969 | 665 | 96 | 0.0062% |
| 1970 | 674 | 99 | 0.0062% |
| 1971 | 685 | 97 | 0.0065% |
| 1972 | 692 | 90 | 0.0066% |
| 1973 | 736 | 73 | 0.0056% |
| 1974 | 779 | 65 | 0.005% |
| 1975 | 730 | 79 | 0.0061% |
| 1976 | 698 | 92 | 0.0071% |
| 1977 | 576 | 163 | 0.0121% |
| 1978 | 646 | 119 | 0.0089% |
| 1979 | 704 | 100 | 0.0071% |
| 1980 | 751 | 89 | 0.0061% |
| 1981 | 725 | 96 | 0.0065% |
| 1982 | 698 | 107 | 0.0072% |
| 1983 | 714 | 95 | 0.0064% |
| 1984 | 851 | 64 | 0.0043% |
| 1985 | 715 | 105 | 0.0069% |
| 1986 | 896 | 58 | 0.0038% |
| 1987 | 708 | 117 | 0.0077% |
| 1988 | 803 | 90 | 0.0058% |
| 1989 | 784 | 111 | 0.0069% |
| 1990 | 851 | 98 | 0.0059% |
| 1991 | 897 | 89 | 0.0055% |
| 1992 | 804 | 121 | 0.0076% |
| 1993 | 828 | 114 | 0.0073% |
| 1994 | 767 | 138 | 0.009% |
| 1995 | 681 | 191 | 0.0127% |
| 1996 | 594 | 253 | 0.0169% |
| 1997 | 608 | 242 | 0.0164% |
| 1998 | 641 | 230 | 0.0154% |
| 1999 | 733 | 172 | 0.0115% |
| 2000 | 656 | 228 | 0.0149% |
| 2001 | 717 | 195 | 0.0129% |
| 2002 | 665 | 234 | 0.0156% |
| 2003 | 689 | 233 | 0.0153% |
| 2004 | 743 | 201 | 0.0132% |
| 2005 | 683 | 260 | 0.017% |
| 2006 | 663 | 297 | 0.019% |
| 2007 | 697 | 286 | 0.0181% |
| 2008 | 684 | 303 | 0.0196% |
| 2009 | 657 | 328 | 0.0219% |
| 2010 | 596 | 370 | 0.0257% |
| 2011 | 554 | 412 | 0.0289% |
| 2012 | 504 | 488 | 0.0342% |
| 2013 | 416 | 660 | 0.0464% |
| 2014 | 336 | 951 | 0.0653% |
| 2015 | 273 | 1,320 | 0.0907% |
| 2016 | 219 | 1,751 | 0.1214% |
| 2017 | 181 | 2,164 | 0.155% |
| 2018 | 167 | 2,282 | 0.1661% |
| 2019 | 164 | 2,365 | 0.1747% |
| 2020 | 161 | 2,267 | 0.1781% |
| 2021 | 147 | 2,519 | 0.2061% |
| 2022 | 153 | 2,407 | 0.1825% |
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Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Rhett
If you like Rhett, you’ll love these other names like Rhett.
What names sound like Rhett?
If you like how Rhett sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Rhett.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read |
Red |
English |
||
| Redd |
Near the reeds; red-haired |
English |
||
| Reed |
Red |
English |
|
|
| Reid |
Red-haired |
English |
|
|
| Reyd |
Red |
English |
||
| Rito |
|
|||
| Roth |
Red |
German |
What names are similar to Rhett?
Find a name that’s like Rhett, but just a little bit different.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiatt |
Lofty gate |
English |
||
| Ohed |
Loved one |
Hebrew |
||
| Raheem |
Compassionate |
Arabic |
|
|
| Renat |
Rebirth |
French |
||
| Rhory |
Red king |
Irish |
||
| Rusty |
Bearing rust; short form of Russell |
English |
|
Lists With Rhett
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Rhett.
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When it comes to baby boy names, being adorable sure goes a long way as you can see by our list of cute boy names. They don’t carry a heavy association or seriousness that other monikers may bring to the table, leading to happy-go-lucky names ripe with potential.
-
Emo Boy Names With Serious Style // 121 names
Emo boy names range from musical monikers to the moodiest of meanings. Browse our collection of them.
-
Western Boy Names for Your Rodeo Rider // 188 names
Western boy names offer unbridled style and vigor. From saddle-suited sweethearts to place names picks, we’ve got them all on this list.
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Boy Names With Deep Meaning and Might // 249 names
Boy names with deep meaning connect with you on another level. Get to know these amazing finds and see which speaks to you.
-
Southern Boy Names With Chivalry and Charm // 193 names
Southern boy names are reminiscent of afternoons at nana’s with sweet tea and cobbler. Check out our top picks.
Siblings of Rhett
Mamas with kids named Rhett also have kids with these names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Popularity | Other Gender |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckett |
Bee cottage |
English |
|
| Emsley |
From the elm wood |
English |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therron |
Hunter |
Greek |
||
| Harper |
Harp Player |
English |
|
|
| Declan |
Full of goodness |
Irish |
|
8 Comments
Julie
Everett is cute. However, I’m not a fan of the potential nn, Rhett. There’s a narcissistic abusive Rhett that we unfortunately had in our lives. I can never look at the name the same again.
Jenna
It was the first name my husband and I could agree on. We wanted something that wasn’t super common but totally off the wall. Rhett is an easy name to call.
Janine
We struggled with a name for our scone baby boy. We wanted something different that you don’t hear often. After looking over names constantly we came across Rhett. My husband instantly fell in love as he loves the movie gone with the wind and Rhett Butler.
Laura
It’s different and not everyone has the name.
Elizabeth
We landed on the name Rhett while searching through the BabyNames app. I’ve always loved the name, way back to when I was a little girl watching Gone with the Wind, and was so happy when I saw that my husband loved it too! It seems like such a masculine yet gentle name. Strong and silent. Classic. Our baby boy seems to fit the name already. He’s always observing the world around him, has an absolutely charming dimpled smile, and has a strength that’s already evident. We’re so happy we chose the name!
Keri
My husband and I heard the name while we were out somewhere one day and just fell in love with it.
Elise
Ever since seeing Gone With The Wind when I was younger I’ve always loved the name Rhett. I’m from Georgia, which is where the movie was filmed, but I live up north now so I feel like it is a nod to my southern roots! I also like that I don’t know anyone else with that name. It’s easy to spell and pronounce and it’s different but not too different. I don’t like names that are too common or too strange.
Whitney
This was a name we first came across in a baby name book. I didn’t know any other Rhett’s and I loved the name!