Rhett
Boy name · #188 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Rhett? In official American birth records, Rhett has been tracked continuously since 1917, giving it 108 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,936 baby boys were named Rhett, placing it at #188 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #276, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 930 boys born in 2025 was named Rhett.
The 108-year story
Rhett first appears in the Social Security records in 1917, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 2,538 boys were named Rhett — good for #149 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Rhett per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rhett against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rhett in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rhett is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rhett is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rhett is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Rhett is most common in SD (5.5 per 1,000), MT (4.8 per 1,000), ND (4.5 per 1,000), AR (3.7 per 1,000), NE (3.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Rhett is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Rhett
Statistically, parents drawn to Rhett tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Barrett, Emmett, Jett, Beckett, and Everett.
BarrettEmmettJettBeckettEverettElliottRykerTruett
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rhett | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,936 | #188 |
| 2024 | 2,138 | #174 |
| 2023 | 2,189 | #165 |
| 2022 | 2,501 | #151 |
| 2021 | 2,538 | #149 |
| 2020 | 2,350 | #159 |
| 2019 | 2,391 | #166 |
| 2018 | 2,313 | #167 |
| 2017 | 2,202 | #180 |
| 2016 | 1,768 | #220 |
| 2015 | 1,341 | #276 |
| 2014 | 978 | #340 |
| 2013 | 688 | #425 |
| 2012 | 521 | #508 |
| 2011 | 447 | #563 |
| 2010 | 411 | #606 |
| 2009 | 373 | #659 |
| 2008 | 354 | #683 |
| 2007 | 332 | #703 |
| 2006 | 330 | #683 |
| 2005 | 298 | #693 |
| 2004 | 269 | #713 |
| 2003 | 283 | #684 |
| 2002 | 279 | #669 |
| 2001 | 239 | #728 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rhett?
In official American birth records, the name Rhett first appeared in 1917 (over 108 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 108 years.
Is Rhett a popular boy name?
Rhett ranked #188 among boys in 2025 with 1,936 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #276.
When was the name Rhett most popular?
Rhett peaked in 2021, when 2,538 American boys received the name (ranked #149 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rhett?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 930 newborn American boys was named Rhett. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.