Reynolds Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REN-uhlds //ˈrɛnəldz//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: 'ruler's advisor'; French: 'from the reynolds'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Reynolds has its roots in the Old High German name Raginwald, which is composed of the elements "ragin," meaning "counsel," and "wald," meaning "rule" or "power." This name evolved through several linguistic stages, transitioning into the Old French form Reginald before being adopted into Middle English as Reynold. The name ultimately became Reynolds as it was anglicized in the English-speaking world, particularly from the 12th century onward, when the Norman influence permeated English culture following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Historically, the name Reynolds has been borne by notable figures, including saints and nobility. One significant figure is Saint Reginald, a 9th-century saint venerated in parts of Europe.
The name also appears in various medieval texts and records, often associated with landowners and knights. By the 14th century, Reynolds was well established in England, appearing in various forms in legal documents and literature.
The name's presence in the historical record reflects the social and political structures of the time, where names often indicated lineage and status. Culturally, the name Reynolds has been associated with strength and leadership, echoing its etymological roots in counsel and power.
It has also been linked to various traditions and folklore, often embodying the qualities of a wise ruler or protector. The diminutive form "Rey" has occasionally been used, though Reynolds itself has remained the more prominent form throughout history.
The name's endurance can be attributed to its strong historical associations and the qualities it represents, making it a lasting choice in various cultures.
Fictional characters named Reynolds
The following list of fictional characters named Reynolds is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Reynolds is a fictional character from the video game series Metal Gear Solid. He is a key member of the military organization FOXHOUND and plays a significant role in the events surrounding the series' main conflicts.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Reynolds, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Reynolds. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Reynolds was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Reynolds has ranked as high as #878 nationally, which occurred in 1923, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Reynolds has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Reynolds is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Reynolds was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Reynolds (2018)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Reynolds.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1996 | 7 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1994 | 7 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 8 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 11 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 8 |
| 1977 | 12 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 11 |
| 1974 | 8 |
| 1973 | 6 |
| 1972 | 8 |
| 1971 | 11 |
| 1970 | 13 |
| 1969 | 9 |
| 1968 | 15 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 14 |
| 1965 | 14 |
| 1964 | 10 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 16 |
| 1961 | 13 |
| 1960 | 15 |
| 1959 | 21 |
| 1958 | 12 |
| 1957 | 15 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 22 |
| 1954 | 21 |
| 1953 | 18 |
| 1952 | 23 |
| 1951 | 20 |
| 1950 | 14 |
| 1949 | 14 |
| 1948 | 18 |
| 1947 | 14 |
| 1946 | 23 |
| 1945 | 27 |
| 1944 | 14 |
| 1943 | 21 |
| 1942 | 27 |
| 1941 | 22 |
| 1940 | 19 |
| 1939 | 14 |
| 1938 | 20 |
| 1937 | 19 |
| 1936 | 17 |
| 1935 | 27 |
| 1934 | 25 |
| 1933 | 22 |
| 1932 | 13 |
| 1931 | 20 |
| 1930 | 15 |
| 1929 | 16 |
| 1928 | 19 |
| 1927 | 26 |
| 1926 | 20 |
| 1925 | 25 |
| 1924 | 27 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1922 | 19 |
| 1921 | 24 |
| 1920 | 21 |
| 1919 | 10 |
| 1918 | 18 |
| 1917 | 30 |
| 1916 | 31 |
| 1915 | 25 |
| 1914 | 28 |
| 1913 | 20 |
| 1912 | 14 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1909 | 5 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1888 | 5 |