[name]Do[/name] you like the name?
What do you picture?
Is there anything you associate the name with?
[name]Do[/name] you see it “going to the girls?”
I love the name [name]Rhys[/name] for a boy but [name]Reese[/name] has been used for an adorable little girl in our extended family. If it was more popular I might still use it. Since it is still rather obscure in our neighbourhood, to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think I can get away with it.
I’ve never heard it before but kind of like it. It reminds me of the Supermans ([name]George[/name] [name]Reeve[/name] and [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Reeves[/name]), which is always a nice association. It’s simple, short, and strong. It COULD go to the girls, but then again, so has everything else!
I immediately think of [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Reeve[/name] (to the pp - it was the other way around: [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Reeve[/name] and [name]George[/name] [name]Reeves[/name]).
I like it, though I think many people will think you are saying “[name]Reed[/name]” on first hearing. The “v” at the end is such a soft sound that I do think it has a slight feminine feel about it, which may make some wonder about gender. It also depends on your last name. Does it flow well with a name that ends softly?
My ln is [name]Ellis[/name], which begins with a soft sound so the v seems quite pronounced.
[name]Reeve[/name] [name]Ellis[/name].
I really like it - it is one of those rare gems that I’ve never heard as a name, but is still not weird and is very easy to say and spell. So hard to find that sweet spot!
I like it! I’ve never heard it as a given name before, but it’s similar enough to [name]Rhys[/name] and [name]Reid[/name] that I feel like I have, if that makes sense. As others have said, it does have a softer sound, but I don’t think that makes it feminine. Other soft sounding names that remain masculine are names like [name]John[/name], [name]Ben[/name] and [name]Miles[/name]. I think it’s a great choice!
I can’t say I’ve never heard it, but I think I thought of using it as a first name (and yes, I was thinking of the sound similarity to [name]Reese[/name]) before I heard of anyone doing it. At the time, something about the sound put me off, in the same way S-ending surnames as first names did (and sometimes still do). At least it’s an occupational name that isn’t -er.
I’ve never heard as a name, but is still not weird and is very easy to say and spell. So hard to find that sweet spot!
I suppose that’s why a lot of surname names took off.
The mention of superheroes, [name]Reed[/name]/[name]Reid[/name] and [name]Reeve[/name] [name]Ellis[/name] together made me think: “backwards names”. (And no, don’t interpret this as me misreading your post to interpret [name]Ellis[/name] as a middle name that you have the opportunity to swap with the first; hear me out.) That is, [name]Ellis[/name] has sometimes been used as a first name, including on girls. [name]Reeve[/name] is even more uncommon, so [name]Reeve[/name] [name]Ellis[/name] has a bit of the effect of being reversed - mostly because [name]Ellis[/name] [name]Reeve[/name] is easier to say. I was thinking of the Fantastic Four. [name]Richard[/name] [name]Reed[/name] would be a boring alliterative name, the sort you might want to avoid in real life. [name]Reed[/name] [name]Richards[/name] is choppier, but that helps: it’s more memorable with the less common first name, and it avoids a singsong/repetitive effect. You’ve got something like that going - not that you have alliteration or rhyme to avoid, which I suppose makes that statement not make any sense…
So that’s a cautious “yes”.
@ triplicate - I love your post. The confusion with the name order is something I’ve been struggling with since we got married. There are SO many names I love that are more commonly known as last names. [name]Miles[/name], [name]Reid[/name], [name]Lee[/name] & [name]Lane[/name] are amongst my top choices. [name]Luke[/name] is just about the only one that is not more commonly known as a last name and happens to be the one my DH likes the least.
Our top girl name is [name]Claire[/name]. I adore one syllable names. I’m [name]Anne[/name] and my husband is [name]Scott[/name], so I thought it would be a nice connection to stick with one syllable. Especially since my nephews and niece all have 2 syllable, 6 letter names.
[name]Phenix[/name] ([name]Phoenix[/name] mispelled)
[name]Daphne[/name]
[name]Kayden[/name]
Can you tell which family member sought my advice?? 
What sort of effect do you think the “backwards name syndrome” may have on a child/adult?
Can you think of any one syllable first names that are not well known lasts?
[name]Reeve[/name] was a character in “The Face on the Milk Carton”, a young adult novel that I loved at age twelve, and it’s two or three sequels. So, [name]Reeve[/name] reminds me of that character, who was the love interest/boyfriend of the protagonist and a quite attractive, but somewhat troubled young man. At the time that I read the book, I had a huge crush on the [name]Reeve[/name] character that I still associate with the name in general. So, that is my way of saying, I do think [name]Reeve[/name] is a handsome name. Although, when I really consider it beyond the character association I have with it, I find it to sound a bit harsh as it rhymes with “[name]Cleve[/name]” and I prefer the overall sound of [name]River[/name] or [name]Reed[/name].
I have never heard of [name]Reeve[/name] used as a first name, but I know two [name]Reeves[/name] with an S on the end and I absolutely [name]LOVE[/name] that. Have you considered amending it this way??
[name]Reeve[/name] doesn’t have a soft ending with your last name, but I agree that triplicate had some very thoughtful comments. My immediate thought was that [name]Reeve[/name] [name]Ellis[/name] sounded more feminine because people were likely to flip the name.
My first name is a common last name, and my married name is now a common girl’s name (top 100). In a professional setting I’ve often had people flip my name, though mostly in e-mail and over the phone. This even happens with associates whom I’ve worked with before that should know in which order my name goes. But because my name is feminine either way I don’t have a problem with people confusing my gender. Having the flipped name problem as an adult hasn’t been so bad (only slightly annoying at times). If it had happened to me as a child I might have been more perturbed - and I know it would have bothered me if someone had confused me for a boy.
[name]Ellis[/name] immediately struck me as a very “pretty” last name, and I think finding a first name that people are unlikely to flip will be difficult, especially given the proliferation of last names as firsts these days. [name]Luke[/name] was a perfect example of one that would work well, but I’m drawing a blank on others that aren’t nicknames.
I really like the name [name]Reeve[/name]! Great choice. You should go for it 
For once sylable girls names I could only come up with
Are you open to longer names that can be shortened to a one sylable nn?
We are not opposed to using a 3 syllable boys name (I like [name]Dominic[/name]). We want to avoid 2 syllables if we can but if we love the name ([name]Edwin[/name] made our list), we may consider it. I’m not opposed to using a nickname for a longer name or a nickname as a first name.
I like the name [name]Reeve[/name] and would love to see it on someone else’s baby (I am not brave enough), but I do agree with pp that some may confuse it or mis-hear it for [name]Reed[/name] or [name]Reece[/name] since it is so unusual. Also, I worry about the reverse name thing with [name]Ellis[/name]. In fact, this issue intrigued me so much that I just started a new topic about this. I too will have this issue, but my last name is much more common than [name]Ellis[/name], so maybe it depends on the exact situation.
I think my initial thought is if you love it enough, then maybe all that shouldn’t matter.