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.

Infographic of Rhett name meaning, which is Meaning advice, Rhett is an English name.
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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.


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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. It’s different and not everyone has the name.

  5. 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!

  6. My husband and I heard the name while we were out somewhere one day and just fell in love with it.

  7. 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.

  8. 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!


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