UK boy's name
Reg
A short form of the English masculine name Reginald, meaning "counsel power".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Reg is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Reg popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 5 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2006 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Reg. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Reg ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 5 boys were registered as Reg.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reg as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
5 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Reg mean?
The given name Reg is believed to have originated from the Old English word "regol" or "rēgol," which means "rule" or "canon." This name can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in England, dating from around the 5th to the 11th century AD.
During this time, the name Reg was primarily used as a shortened form or diminutive of longer names such as Reginald, which translates to "powerful ruler" or "mighty ruler." It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and aristocracy, reflecting the importance of leadership and authority within their culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reg can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a historical record compiled in the late 9th century. The chronicle mentions a figure named Reg, although details about their significance are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reg. One of the most famous was Reg Parnell (1911-1964), a British racing driver and team manager who competed in Formula One and other prestigious motorsports events during the mid-20th century.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Reg Smythe (1917-1998), a British cartoonist best known for creating the popular comic strip "Andy Capp," which satirized working-class life in the United Kingdom.
In the realm of entertainment, Reg E. Cathey (1958-2018) was an acclaimed American actor who received critical acclaim for his roles in television shows such as "Oz," "House of Cards," and "The Wire."
Additionally, Reg Varney (1916-2008) was a British actor and comedian who rose to fame for his portrayal of the character Stan Butler in the popular sitcom "On the Buses" during the 1970s.
Furthermore, Reg Presley (1941-2013) was the lead singer and frontman of the British rock band The Troggs, known for their hit songs like "Wild Thing" and "Love Is All Around."
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Reg, demonstrating its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Reg over time
The chart below shows babies named Reg registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Reg, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reg by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reg was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4609 | 19 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2870 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Reg
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Reg: questions and answers
How popular is the name Reg in the UK right now?
In 2022, Reg was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Reg most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 5 babies registered as Reg in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Reg?
A short form of the English masculine name Reginald, meaning "counsel power".
How many people are called Reg in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Reg across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.