Inventive way to honor a redheaded ancestor, though most people would mispronounce it reeding, making it sound to some kids like a school assignment: Redding is a preferable spelling.

Upper-crusty surname name.

Originally derived from an English surname, given to someone who lived in a town or settlement near a marsh where grass-like rush plants grew, Ruston feels similar in style to Ashton or Reed, but could also work as a twist on the more classic Russell.

Rufo is a masculine name with Latin and Spanish origins, derived from the Roman name Rufus, meaning "red-haired" or "red-headed." This ancient name was relatively common in the Roman Empire and later spread throughout Europe. In Spanish-speaking countries, Rufo maintains its classical roots while offering a distinctive alternative to more common names. Though not widely used in contemporary naming, it carries a warm, friendly sound with its soft ending. Rufo has connections to various saints and historical figures, giving it a sense of timeless dignity. The name's brevity and straightforward pronunciation make it accessible across cultures while still maintaining its distinctive Mediterranean character.

An Arabic name borne by Ali al-Ridha, a 9th-century Shia imam.

Revere is a word name meaning to admire or esteem, an appealing meaning. In the USA, however, Revere attracts further connotation as the surname of Paul Revere, one of the celebrated patriots of the American Revolution. As a surname, the meaning of Revere might be river or robber.

An auspicious choice connected to dragons. English speakers will have difficulty pronouncing this name in Japanese — it's all one syllable, with barely any emphasis on the R sound.

Rust is one of the few color names for boys, sometimes short for Russell. As a diminutive for Russell, it's much more modern and cooler than Rusty. Whether you use it as a nickname or it stands on its own, the meaning refers to the color red.

Royalty is a super-hot name for girls, but there's no reason it can't be used for boys too. In fact it is, but only about 5 percent of the time, making it one of those unisex names whose usage is tipped so far toward one gender that it isn't truly unisex. But still, English words are usually not intrinsically gendered so Royalty is perfectly appropriate for boys as well as girls and is one of the fastest-rising unisex names.

Chosen by one musician, Todd Rundgren, for his son, but unlikely to be emulated by others.

Any name that combines two big trends -- in this case, occupational and western names -- has potential.

Urdu form of the Arabic name Ridha.

This variation of Rostam might be more English-friendly given its resemblance to the familiar Russ or Russell.

Attractive if phonetically confusing; also pronounced exactly the same as the Renault car.

In Maori and other Polynesian mythology Rangi or Ranginui was a god of the sky, husband of the earth goddess Papa or Papatuanuku. This strong and simple Māori name would make for a fresh celestial choice.

A rare, but certainly usable, Japanese name from the manga series Vampire Knight.