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Reese as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Reese

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The baby name Reese is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /riːs/ (REES).

Reese is Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: /riːs/ (REES)

What is the meaning of the name Reese ?

The baby name Reese is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /riːs/ (REES).

Reese is Welsh in Origin.

Reese is the Anglicized form of the Welsh given name Rhys, traditionally pronounced REES and meaning ardor, enthusiasm, or passion. The name has deep roots in medieval Wales, borne by rulers such as Rhys ap Tewdwr (11th century) and Rhys ap Gruffydd, “The Lord Rhys” (12th century), which established it as a classic masculine choice. The related surnames Rees, Reese, Rice, and Price (from ap Rhys) share the same origin.

Adopted into English as both a surname and given name, Reese gained wider popularity across the UK, United States, and Australia. It is now widely unisex in North America, with a notable rise for girls influenced by actress Reese Witherspoon in the late 1990s–2000s. Common variants include Rhys (the traditional Welsh spelling), Reece (English variant), and Rees; all carry the spirited meaning tied to zeal and lively energy.

Reese has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Reese

Reese Witherspoon Actor · Born 1976 · United States Reese Witherspoon is an American actress and producer best known for films like Legally Blonde, Walk the Line, and Wild. Born on March 22, 1976, she has won major honors including an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.

Celebrity babies named Reese

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Reese Troup Julie London television actor Bobby Troup television actor

Reese – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2018 #1 744
Ireland Girls 2021 #1 897
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
PH 0 #108 3 5,607
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
United States Girls 2024 #176 1,589 8,487
Canada Girls 2024 #194 93 2,795
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
JM Girls 0 #278 1 7,507
Canada Boys 2024 #279 28 2,588
SG 0 #282 1 11,010
TW Girls 0 #286 4 8,139
JM Boys 0 #292 2 6,876
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CN Boys 0 #328 4 9,639
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
QA Girls 0 #338 6 15,378
HK 0 #350 8 8,483
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
MY 0 #351 4 12,352
CN Girls 0 #356 4 8,829
PH Girls 0 #359 32 13,098
France Boys 2020 #387 5 2,846
PH Boys 0 #403 6 11,440
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
ZA 0 #471 4 14,421
CR Boys 0 #475 13 10,188
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
United States Boys 2024 #503 455 7,044
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #553 5 12,905
KW Girls 0 #557 5 19,177
PS Boys 0 #560 2 10,655
SG Girls 0 #569 18 18,916
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
AE Girls 0 #593 5 20,968
HK Girls 0 #602 14 16,104
IL Boys 0 #625 1 10,983
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
NG Girls 0 #825 2 15,093
CL Girls 0 #915 1 14,098
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
SA Girls 0 #926 10 25,931
MY Girls 0 #960 35 24,821
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
NG Boys 0 #998 4 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,028 6 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,101 11 25,439
ZA Girls 0 #1,111 31 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,142 2 22,615
ZA Boys 0 #1,144 35 25,619
DZ 0 #1,232 3 20,130
TR 0 #1,253 2 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
SA Boys 0 #1,686 6 28,008

Reese is popular in 42 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
Scotland, United Kingdom
New York City (White, non-Hispanic), United States
Ireland

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People also ask about Reese

Reese is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Reese is a one syllable name, pronounced /riːs/ (REES).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Rhys, Reece and Rees.
Across languages, Reese has these equivalents: Rice (anglicized form), Rhys (original Welsh), Aidan (similar 'fire' meaning).
Yes, very popular — Reese ranked #1 in Ireland in 2018, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Reese ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2018).
Yes — 1 notable people named Reese are in our database, including Reese Witherspoon (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Reese for their child, including Julie London and Bobby Troup.