UK name, mostly boys
Reiss
Derived from an Arabic surname meaning "leader" or "prince".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Reiss is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Reiss popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 78 births.
This profile covers 912 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 5% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,143 living people in the UK are called Reiss. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Reiss ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 78 boys were registered as Reiss.
- • Reiss ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2024.
- • About 1,143 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reiss as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.6% of Reiss registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
78 births
Estimated living
1,143
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Reiss
In England and Wales birth records, Reiss has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 97.6% of registrations are for boys and 2.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Reiss registered for boys
- Ranked #4,270 in 2024
- 4 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 1998 (78 births)
Reiss registered for girls
- Ranked #4,709 in 2023
- 4 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 1997 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Reiss mean?
The name Reiss is believed to have originated from the German language, derived from the word "reise," which means "journey" or "travel." It is thought to have emerged as a surname in the medieval period, likely referring to someone who was a traveler or merchant.
In its earliest recorded uses, the name Reiss appeared in various German-speaking regions, such as Bavaria and Saxony, as early as the 13th century. It was often spelled with variations like "Reiss," "Reisz," or "Reissig."
One of the earliest known references to the name Reiss can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a merchant named Hans Reiss was mentioned in the year 1349. This suggests that the name was associated with traders and travelers during that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reiss. One of the most famous was Johann Reiss (1655-1736), a German composer and organist who was known for his contributions to the development of the organ and its music.
Another prominent figure was Jacob Reiss (1766-1828), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.
In the realm of literature, the name Reiss is associated with the German writer and poet Johann Peter Reiss (1795-1871), who was known for his romantic poems and his work as a librarian.
The name Reiss also gained recognition in the field of science with the German physicist and Nobel Prize winner Wilhelm Reiss (1838-1908), who made important discoveries in the study of electricity and electromagnetism.
Finally, one cannot overlook the German-American businessman and philanthropist Charles Reiss (1857-1942), who founded the Reiss Manufacturing Company and was known for his support of educational institutions and charitable organizations.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the name Reiss throughout history, reflecting its origins as a name associated with travel, trade, and exploration.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Reiss over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Reiss in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Reiss, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 78 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reiss by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reiss 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 | #3650 | 26 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1617 | 157 | 10 |
| 2000s | #660 | 435 | 10 |
| 1990s | #335 | 294 | 4 |
Geography
Where Reiss is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Reiss. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Reiss ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2024.
Across the UK
Reiss in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 2024
26 years of NRS records, 242 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Reiss
-
Reiss Greenidge
association football player
English association football player
1996-
-
Reiss Harwood
basketball player
English basketball player (born 1990)
1990-
Related
Names similar to Reiss
- 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
Reiss: questions and answers
How popular is the name Reiss in the UK right now?
In 2024, Reiss was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Reiss most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 78 babies registered as Reiss in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Reiss?
Derived from an Arabic surname meaning "leader" or "prince".
How many people are called Reiss in the UK?
A total of 912 babies have been registered as Reiss across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 242 more in Scotland.
Where is Reiss most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Reiss ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #535 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.