Discover and Shortlist Your Perfect Baby Names!

Rei as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Rei

Add to my Name List

The baby name Rei is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced {'ja': "/re.i/ or [ɾe.i] (approx. 'ray')", 'en': "/reɪ/ ('ray')", 'es/pt': "/rei/ ('ray')"}.

Rei is English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 1.0
Pronunciation: {'ja': "/re.i/ or [ɾe.i] (approx. 'ray')", 'en': "/reɪ/ ('ray')", 'es/pt': "/rei/ ('ray')"}

What is the meaning of the name Rei ?

The baby name Rei is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced {'ja': "/re.i/ or [ɾe.i] (approx. 'ray')", 'en': "/reɪ/ ('ray')", 'es/pt': "/rei/ ('ray')"}.

Rei is English, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish in Origin.

Rei is a compact, unisex name pronounced “ray.” In Japanese, its sense depends on the kanji used: 礼 “courtesy” or “gratitude”; 玲 “tinkling (of jade)”; 怜 “wise/clever”; 麗 “beautiful”; 霊 “spirit”; 零 “zero” (often interpreted as “new beginning”).

As a given name it has long been used in Japan for all genders, borne by figures such as designer Rei Kawakubo and widely recognized through characters like Rei Ayanami. In the Hebrew Bible (1 Kings 1:8), Rei is named among David’s supporters, with a probable root meaning “friend” or “companion.” In Portuguese, rei literally means “king,” which has encouraged modern, occasional use. Related forms and lookalikes include Ray and Rey (English/Spanish), Rae (English), and Japanese extensions such as Reiko (feminine) and Reiji (masculine); Reina also embeds the element Rei.

Rei has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Rei

Rei Sakuma Actor · Born 1965 · Japan Rei Sakuma is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer, and narrator best known for voicing Batako in the long-running children's series Soreike! Anpanman. Born in Tokyo on January 5, 1965, she has built a well-known career in Japanese entertainment.

Rei – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
AL 0 #43 33 2,372
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
JP 0 #61 17 4,057
AO 0 #67 10 2,729
AL Boys 0 #68 421 5,122
ID Girls 0 #101 2 3,319
PH 0 #104 7 5,607
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
ID Boys 0 #134 2 4,130
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
PA 0 #138 1 3,797
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
JP Girls 0 #143 114 6,592
RS Boys 0 #153 2 2,277
PR Boys 0 #177 2 2,508
Sweden Girls 2022 #178 2 1,568
Sweden Boys 2021 #179 5 1,578
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
AL Girls 0 #183 40 4,141
AO Boys 0 #186 57 5,568
AR 0 #192 2 2,915
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
LU Boys 0 #218 3 4,970
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
JP Boys 0 #232 66 7,909
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
NA Boys 0 #251 3 6,830
TW Boys 0 #252 5 7,111
SG 0 #255 15 11,010
HR Boys 0 #257 3 3,997
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
GR Boys 0 #272 2 6,912
IL 0 #275 8 6,291
Canada Girls 2024 #278 8 2,795
TW Girls 0 #283 7 8,139
HR Girls 0 #293 2 3,687
KZ Boys 0 #294 3 6,578
Canada Boys 2022 #304 7 2,557
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
SA 0 #309 4 10,560
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
CN Boys 0 #330 2 9,639
KZ Girls 0 #330 3 5,862
PT Boys 0 #332 36 7,951
BR 0 #336 10 5,969
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
MY 0 #346 9 12,352
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
HK 0 #351 7 8,483
PH Boys 0 #355 29 11,440
CN Girls 0 #357 3 8,829
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
PH Girls 0 #362 29 13,098
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
MU Boys 0 #365 5 8,477
France Boys 2018 #387 3 2,908
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
OM Girls 0 #422 3 15,987
Germany 0 #428 10 2,542
CL 0 #430 5 6,867
MX 0 #443 3 8,339
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
PA Boys 0 #469 13 9,305
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
AR Boys 0 #477 7 7,628
RU Girls 0 #485 14 11,913
RU Boys 0 #488 18 12,621
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
CR Boys 0 #504 7 10,188
CO 0 #509 2 7,768
HK Boys 0 #514 14 12,905
PA Girls 0 #516 3 9,861
CR Girls 0 #520 13 11,342
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
PS Boys 0 #526 23 10,655
SG Girls 0 #527 60 18,916
IR Girls 0 #542 4 8,334
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
KW Girls 0 #555 7 19,177
IL Boys 0 #557 51 10,983
CM Girls 0 #559 2 11,671
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
BR Boys 0 #561 198 12,213
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
HK Girls 0 #593 23 16,104
AE Girls 0 #595 3 20,968
BD Boys 0 #603 3 10,045
BO Boys 0 #614 9 9,244
AR Girls 0 #629 2 8,289
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
CL Boys 0 #648 18 13,390
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
IN Girls 0 #652 3 13,121
Finland Boys 2026 #669 14 3,552
SG Boys 0 #671 27 17,960
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
QA Boys 0 #698 10 18,093
IT 0 #703 12 4,183
Finland Girls 2026 #729 10 3,895
SY 0 #766 2 11,684
KW Boys 0 #800 7 18,755
Germany Girls 0 #825 14 4,949
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
CO Boys 0 #849 72 15,656
PE Boys 0 #852 27 14,506
TN 0 #859 7 13,765
United States Boys 2024 #864 29 7,044
United States Girls 2024 #890 27 8,487
Spain Boys 0 #906 25 5,610
CL Girls 0 #911 5 14,098
Germany Boys 0 #915 38 5,697
SA Girls 0 #915 21 25,931
EG Boys 0 #917 9 15,035
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
BR Girls 0 #931 11 12,708
MY Girls 0 #952 43 24,821
MX Boys 0 #953 30 16,355
Spain Girls 0 #969 15 5,561
NG Boys 0 #999 3 16,906
EG Girls 0 #1,003 7 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,008 3 14,861
IN Boys 0 #1,034 6 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,061 51 25,439
MA 0 #1,115 14 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,130 12 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,138 6 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,146 7 16,140
DZ 0 #1,152 25 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,167 12 25,619
MX Girls 0 #1,171 13 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,202 270 10,046
TR 0 #1,248 7 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,394 53 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,584 31 28,008

Rei is popular in 71 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
Sweden
France
AE

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Rei

Rei is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Rei is a one syllable name, pronounced {'ja': "/re.i/ or [ɾe.i] (approx. 'ray')", 'en': "/reɪ/ ('ray')", 'es/pt': "/rei/ ('ray')"}.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Rey, Ray, Rae, Japanese kanji forms: 玲, 麗 and 礼.
Across languages, Rei has these equivalents: Rex (Latin/English, 'king'), Roi (French, 'king'), Rey (Spanish, 'king' and also a spelling variation), Ray (English, similar sound/short form), Bella/Belle (semantic equivalent for 'beautiful').
Yes — Rei ranked #178 in Sweden in 2022, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Rei ranks highest in Sweden (#178 in 2022).
Yes — 1 notable people named Rei are in our database, including Rei Sakuma (Actor).