Rhea
Greek Rheia, the Titan mother of Zeus. The meaning is unsettled, with ancient writers linking it to a word for flowing. A Swahili name Nia, unrelated, sounds similar.
Rhea in 2025
Rhea was given to 452 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1,257th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 7,335 babies born.
The history of Rhea
Rhea reached its highest point in 2023, when 577 babies were given the name, ranking 1,040th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 583rd, in 1899.
Across the 144 years of records since 1882, 20,145 babies have been named Rhea. Half of them were born before 1980, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation X.
Rhea by decade
| Decade | Babies named Rhea | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 117 | 745 |
| 1890s | 481 | 583 |
| 1900s | 548 | 611 |
| 1910s | 1,400 | 711 |
| 1920s | 1,701 | 903 |
| 1930s | 1,146 | 1,046 |
| 1940s | 1,206 | 1,174 |
| 1950s | 1,299 | 1,380 |
| 1960s | 1,080 | 1,636 |
| 1970s | 1,001 | 1,713 |
| 1980s | 1,244 | 1,690 |
| 1990s | 1,174 | 2,135 |
| 2000s | 2,047 | 1,596 |
| 2010s | 2,736 | 1,340 |
| 2020s | 2,965 | 1,040 |
Where Rhea is heading
Rhea has risen 67% over the past decade, from 271 babies in 2015 to 452 in 2025.
Names like Rhea
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Rhea.