Fun Facts About the Name Rei
- More than 1 thousand babies named Rei: U.S. records list 1,028 babies given the name Rei from 1880 through 2025. Even 478 boys received the name Rei.
What Does the Name Rei Mean?
Rei has two independent origins. As a Japanese given name, it is written with various kanji that share the reading rei, so its meaning depends on the characters chosen. Common kanji include 礼 (courtesy, etiquette), 玲 (tinkling of jade), 麗 (beautiful), and 令 (command, decree). The reading rei is a Sino-Japanese on'yomi, so the sound itself does not carry one fixed meaning.
The Hebrew name Rei (רֵעִי) appears in 1 Kings 1:8. It is related to the Hebrew noun rea (רֵעַ), meaning friend or companion, with a first-person ending, so its literal sense is my companion. That derivation is lexical, not a later symbolic interpretation. The Portuguese word rei, meaning king, is a common noun and is separate from these given-name traditions.
Rei Name History & Origins
In Japanese, the reading rei is an on'yomi, a pronunciation borrowed from Chinese. Japanese given names are usually written in kanji, and the same sound can be represented by different characters. A person named Rei might therefore be named with 礼 (courtesy), 玲 (jade sound), 麗 (beautiful), or another character read rei. The name is used for both boys and girls and also appears inside longer names such as Reiko (礼子).
The Hebrew name Rei is known from the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Kings 1:8, Rei is listed among David's supporters who did not join Adonijah's attempt to take the throne, alongside Zadok the priest, Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, and Shimei. The name is formed from the common noun for friend or companion, and its biblical appearance is the main historical record for the Hebrew form. It is distinct from the Japanese name and from the Portuguese common noun.
How Popular is the Name Rei?
Rei 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 2020. Its best rank was #3,267 in 2020.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,364 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2024 | #4,980 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2023 | #4,966 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #5,936 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #4,303 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2020 | #3,267 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #3,985 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 2018 | #4,327 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2017 | #3,826 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2016 | #5,097 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #8,842 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #18,626 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,104 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #7,716 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #6,297 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #8,616 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #12,231 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #11,424 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2007 | #8,434 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #13,342 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #8,756 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #8,612 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #7,909 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #8,710 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #13,168 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #10,144 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #12,994 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #14,831 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #11,079 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #10,557 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #10,091 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #10,914 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1974 | #9,822 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,363 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2024 | #3,860 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2023 | #5,199 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #5,173 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #3,402 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2020 | #5,642 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #3,695 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2018 | #3,865 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2017 | #4,563 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #6,276 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #4,670 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #8,639 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #11,840 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #9,513 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #6,181 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #5,971 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #6,727 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #4,669 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #6,193 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #9,371 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #8,923 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #6,066 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #4,990 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #5,996 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #8,149 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #6,719 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #6,971 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #6,196 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #7,940 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #9,508 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #7,874 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Rei 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 seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Rei's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rei's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.