Literal meaning disputed; earth and flow are among proposed interpretations.
The exact personal-name entry describes the older Greek origin as disputed. It records earth and flow proposals, as well as a possible Pre-Greek or Minoan origin. No proposal is selected as a universal translation; the Titan’s mythological role is separate from the literal meaning.
Origin
Greek, through Latin; deeper origin disputed
The classical name passed through Latin from Greek Rhea. Earth, flow and a pre-Greek origin are among proposed explanations; none is adopted here as a definitive meaning.
English pronunciation
/ˈɹiː.ə/; /ˈɹeɪ.ə/
Two English given-name forms; not the separate surname pronunciation RAY.
Recorded English reading, as published. Accents and preferred pronunciations can differ.
Published name usage
Counts apply only to the exact spelling, place, year and recorded usage shown. Places are separate; these figures are never added into a worldwide total. Missing or suppressed records never mean zero.
Latest published record available for this spelling in each place and recorded usage
Place
Year
Recorded usage
Published births
Rank
Notes
Canada
2025
Girls
81 · preliminary
377
2025 figures are preliminary. Quebec counts below five are randomly imputed by the publisher before national aggregation. Accents are removed in the source; this profile was matched only where the catalog spelling was unambiguous. Unpublished values are unknown, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
France
2023
Girls
5 (rounded to 5)
5937
Counts are rounded to the nearest multiple of five. Ranks use unrounded publisher counts with randomly ordered ties; equally rounded counts can have different ranks. National coverage excludes Mayotte before 2012. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Automated direction labels are withheld for this rounded-count series. Rank basis: source published.
England & Wales
2025
Girls
109
388
Published ranks differ from ranks calculated over visible rows. Counts retained; automated trend labels withheld. Rank basis: source published.
Northern Ireland
2025
Girls
47
35
Two rank discrepancies and alternate-view differences retained. Automated trend labels withheld. Rank basis: source published.
Scotland
2025
Girls
38
116
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: source published.
Ireland
2025
Girls
59
85
Names below three occurrences are unpublished. Accent recording changed in 2018; comparisons across that boundary may not describe the same spelling coverage. Counts refer to registrations in the year. Missing years are unavailable, not zero. Rank basis: source published.
United States
2025
Girls
452
639
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
United States
2004
Boys
5
11356
Source-reported counts; unpublished names are not zero. Rank basis: calculated from published counts.
Canada, Ireland and France coverage includes confidently matched existing profiles only; unmatched spellings are awaiting review. French counts are rounded to five.
Sources & notes
Open an entry for its source, credit, licence and full qualifications. Different name traditions remain separate.
Language of use: English
Checked against cited source
The exact English section explicitly documents female personal-name use under the Greek mythological name history. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Rhea entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Rhea&oldid=93560043. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Meaning: Literal meaning disputed; earth and flow are among proposed interpretations.
Checked against cited source
The exact personal-name entry describes the older Greek origin as disputed. It records earth and flow proposals, as well as a possible Pre-Greek or Minoan origin. No proposal is selected as a universal translation; the Titan’s mythological role is separate from the literal meaning. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Rhea entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Rhea&oldid=93560043. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Name history: A Greek mythological name also given to a moon of Saturn.
Checked against cited source
The entry identifies the Titan Rhea as Zeus’s mother and explains that Saturn’s moon was named for that mythological figure. This is cultural context, not a literal meaning or a claim about a child’s character. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Rhea entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Rhea&oldid=93560043. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin: Greek, through Latin; deeper origin disputed
Checked against cited source
The classical name passed through Latin from Greek Rhea. Earth, flow and a pre-Greek origin are among proposed explanations; none is adopted here as a definitive meaning.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
English pronunciation: /ˈɹiː.ə/; /ˈɹeɪ.ə/
Checked against cited source
Two English given-name forms; not the separate surname pronunciation RAY.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
This adapted text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
CC BY-SA 4.0
Syllables: 2 (the recorded REE-uh and RAY-uh English readings)
Checked against cited source
Both previously recorded UK/US English alternatives have two syllables. Compressed readings in other accents are not assigned this count automatically. Credit: Wiktionary contributors, exact Rhea entries. Sources: https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Rhea&oldid=93560043. License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Adaptation: Rare Baby Names summarized the documented name route or language-specific relationship. No source audio, images or quotations reused.
Credit: Wiktionary contributors. Adapted by Rare Baby Names: wording shortened and name contexts separated. Recorded pronunciations are shown as published.
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
Credit: Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0147-01, 1991–2025, released 23 September 2026.
License: Statistics Canada Open Licence
Adaptation: Adapted from Statistics Canada, First names at birth by sex at birth, selected indicators, Table 17-10-0147-01, reference years 1991–2025. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
Credit: Central Statistics Office, Ireland, VSA50 and VSA60, updated 27 February 2026.
License: CC BY 4.0
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: joined the published count and rank indicators and matched unambiguous existing spellings. Source values retained.
Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
Credit: Source : Insee, Fichier des prénoms, updated 16 July 2026.
License: Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab)
Adaptation: Adapted by Rare Baby Names: column names and sex codes mapped and unique case-only spellings matched to existing profiles. Published rounded counts and ranks retained.