NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Rhett

A masculine name of English origin meaning "advice; counsel".

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.

Rhett is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rhett popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2443, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 14 births.

This profile covers 130 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 64% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 129 living people in the UK are called Rhett. 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

  • Rhett ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 14 boys were registered as Rhett.
  • About 129 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rhett as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2443

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

2020

14 births

Estimated living

129

2026

Meaning

What does Rhett mean?

The name Rhett is an English given name with roots in Old English and Old Norse languages. It is derived from the Old English word "hræt," meaning "reed" or "bulrush," and the Old Norse word "hriðr," meaning "storm" or "tempest."

The earliest recorded use of the name Rhett dates back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Rhett de Swynnerton, a knight from Staffordshire, England, who lived in the late 13th century.

In literature, the name gained prominence with the publication of Margaret Mitchell's novel "Gone with the Wind" in 1936. The novel's main character, Rhett Butler, played a significant role in popularizing the name. Rhett Butler, a dashing and charming character, was portrayed by Clark Gable in the 1939 film adaptation of the novel.

Other notable individuals named Rhett throughout history include:

1. Rhett Ellison (born 1988), an American football player for the Indianapolis Colts. 2. Rhett Miller (born 1970), an American singer-songwriter and lead vocalist of the band Old 97's. 3. Rhett Lawson (born 1995), an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Suns. 4. Rhett Akins (born 1969), an American country music singer-songwriter and record producer. 5. Rhett Forrester (born 1955), an American singer-songwriter and musician best known for his work with the band Robin Trower.

While the name Rhett is not as common as some other English names, it has maintained a steady presence throughout history, particularly after the success of "Gone with the Wind." Its unique sound and literary associations have contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rhett over time

The chart below shows babies named Rhett registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Rhett, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rhett
0471114199620102024

Decades

Rhett by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rhett 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 #2137 52 5
2010s #2738 43 6
2000s #2958 27 6
1990s #2388 8 2

Related

Names similar to Rhett

FAQ

Rhett: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rhett in the UK right now?

In 2024, Rhett was ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Rhett most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 14 babies registered as Rhett in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rhett?

A masculine name of English origin meaning "advice; counsel".

How many people are called Rhett in the UK?

A total of 130 babies have been registered as Rhett across the 19 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.