Rhett

Pronunciation: [ r-EHT ]

Boy Name #174 Most Popular Rising 1 Syllable

The Southern charmer from Gone with the Wind

American Southern US

Literary Vintage Strong Bold Southern

Meaning & Origin

"advice, counsel"

Origin: Welsh/Dutch

Language: English

The Story of Rhett

Rhett is an anglicized form of the Dutch surname 'de Raedt,' meaning advice or counsel. It was introduced to American culture largely through Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, where Rhett Butler is the rakish, charming antihero whose wit and self-possession made him one of fiction's most iconic male characters. Before Mitchell, the name was virtually unknown; after, it became synonymous with Southern charisma.

Rhett experienced a major revival in the 2010s, driven by the popularity of literary names and the enduring cultural presence of Gone with the Wind. YouTube stars Rhett McLaughlin of Good Mythical Morning also brought the name contemporary cool with a massive millennial audience.

In American Southern culture, Rhett is inextricably tied to Gone with the Wind and the romanticized antebellum South. Rhett Butler's famous last line — 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn' — is consistently ranked as the #1 most famous movie quote by the American Film Institute.

Fun Facts

Rhett Butler's 'Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn' is the #1 most famous movie quote per the AFI
Rhett entered the US Top 500 around 2010 and has climbed steadily since
Rhett McLaughlin of Good Mythical Morning has over 18 million YouTube subscribers

Rhett in Other Languages

French Rhett

German Rhett

Spanish Rhett

Japanese レット

Famous People Named Rhett

Rhett McLaughlin

Entertainer

1977

Co-host of YouTube's Good Mythical Morning, one of YouTube's most successful long-running shows

Rhett Butler Fictional

Other

Fictional antihero protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936), one of literature's most charismatic ch...

Fictional antihero protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936), one of literature's most charismatic characters

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 1
Popularity Rank: #174
Total SSA Count: 2,134
Cultural Origins: American Southern US
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Nicknames

Rhe Rhy Rheie

Pairs Well With

Rhett James Rhett Anthony Rhett Walker Rhett Harrison Rhett Sullivan Rhett Barrett Rhett Ford

Sibling Names

Scarlett Vivienne Atticus Harper Scout Sawyer Wren

Also a Girl Name

Rhett is also used as a girl name, ranked #9147.

View Rhett as a girl name →

Similar Names

Lynn Brent Gwen Jett Chet Penn Ren Trent

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rhett

What does the name Rhett mean?

"advice, counsel" (from Welsh/Dutch). Rhett is an anglicized form of the Dutch surname 'de Raedt,' meaning advice or counsel. It was introduced to American culture largely through Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, where Rhett Butler is the rakish, charming antihero whose wit and self-possession made him one of fiction's most iconic male characters. Before Mitchell, the name was virtually unknown; after, it became synonymous with Southern charisma.

What is the origin of the name Rhett?

Rhett has Welsh/Dutch, American, and Southern US origins. In Welsh/Dutch, it means "advice, counsel".

Is Rhett a boy or girl name?

Rhett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #174. As a girl name, it is ranked #9147. Rhett is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Rhett?

Rhett is pronounced r-EHT.

How popular is the name Rhett?

Rhett is currently ranked #174 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Rhett?

Common nicknames for Rhett include Rhe, Rhy, and Rheie.

What are good middle names for Rhett?

Popular middle name pairings include Rhett James, Rhett Anthony, Rhett Walker, Rhett Harrison, Rhett Sullivan, Rhett Barrett, and Rhett Ford.

What are good sibling names for Rhett?

Names that pair well with Rhett as siblings include Scarlett, Vivienne, Atticus, Harper, Scout, Sawyer, and Wren.

How many syllables does Rhett have?

Rhett has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Rhett a common or rare name?

Rhett is a popular name, ranked #174 for boys. It is well-known without being overused.

About the Name Rhett

Rhett is a boy name with American and Southern US origins . The name means "advice, counsel" in Welsh/Dutch .

Is Rhett a boy or girl name? Rhett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #174 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #9,147. Rhett is more commonly used as a boy name.

Rhett is currently ranked #174 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Rhett has 1 syllable and is pronounced r-EHT, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Rhett include Rhe, Rhy, and Rheie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.