Fun Facts About the Name Rees
- More than 1 thousand babies named Rees: U.S. records list 1,150 babies given the name Rees from 1880 through 2025. Even 136 girls received the name Rees - about 1 girl for every 7 boys.
What Does the Name Rees Mean?
Rees means "ardor" or "enthusiasm" and is an anglicized spelling of the Welsh name Rhys. The source is a single Welsh word rather than a compound phrase; its usual gloss is "ardor" or "enthusiasm," while some older accounts give "rash" or "impetuous." Those glosses appear to reflect related ideas of eager impulse, and the exact semantic development is not fully certain.
Rees Name History & Origins
The Welsh name is found in older forms such as Ris, and its modern Welsh spelling is Rhys. It was borne by rulers of Deheubarth, including Rhys ap Tewdwr, who died in 1093, and his grandson Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as the Lord Rhys (1132 - 1197), a patron of Welsh poets and musicians.
Rees is one of the English spellings that developed from Rhys. It is also a Welsh surname derived from the given name; as a first name it is used in English-speaking countries. The spelling reflects English pronunciation of Welsh Rhys, with ee representing the long vowel and the initial Rh simplified. Related English spellings include Reese and Reece.
How Popular is the Name Rees?
Rees has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2000. Its best rank was #2,140 in 1939.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | #17,069 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #14,909 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #14,881 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #17,599 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #12,638 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #18,541 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #18,624 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #14,282 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #16,340 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #8,614 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #14,889 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #15,051 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #15,133 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #9,776 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,979 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #15,648 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #15,333 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #14,980 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #12,362 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,368 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #6,382 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #13,713 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #9,641 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #8,679 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #8,574 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #7,523 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #5,979 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #4,891 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #8,033 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #5,237 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #4,501 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #4,931 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #6,937 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #5,149 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #4,206 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2009 | #5,494 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #3,475 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2007 | #4,338 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #3,365 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2005 | #3,373 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #3,353 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #3,176 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #3,426 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #2,916 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #2,610 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1999 | #3,081 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1998 | #2,695 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1997 | #3,560 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1996 | #3,795 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #3,281 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #5,048 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,640 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #3,712 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #5,021 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1990 | #4,134 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #3,767 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #7,058 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #6,768 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #4,760 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #4,872 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #5,486 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #5,382 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #6,123 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #4,340 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #4,148 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #4,306 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1968 | #3,052 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #3,474 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #3,845 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #4,317 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,941 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,971 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #3,903 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #3,737 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #2,263 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #3,660 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #4,134 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #3,239 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,595 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,050 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #3,678 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #3,366 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,152 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #2,834 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,073 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #2,140 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1938 | #2,817 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #4,171 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #4,216 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #4,442 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #3,485 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,639 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #4,103 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,401 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #4,220 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #4,833 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #4,072 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #3,890 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #3,808 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1915 | #3,743 | 6 | 0.0007% |
| 1914 | #3,651 | 5 | 0.0008% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Rees Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Rees's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rees's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.