Reiss as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Reiss

What is the meaning of the name Reiss ?

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

Reiss is Welsh in Origin.

Reiss is a modern English given name most commonly treated as a variant of Welsh Rhys, from Old Welsh Ris/Rhys meaning “ardor, enthusiasm, passion.” It was borne by prominent medieval Welsh leaders such as Rhys ap Tewdwr and the Lord Rhys (Rhys ap Gruffydd), later entering English usage through forms like Rhys, Rees, Reece, and Reese. As a given name, Reiss appears in British records from the late 20th century and is used for both boys and girls, though historically more masculine.

Variants include Rhys (Welsh standard), Rees, Reese, Reece, and less common Rhyse and Rease; related surnames include Rice and Rees. Some families connect Reiss to the German or Ashkenazic surname Reiss (often from Reis “rice” or other roots), but the given-name meaning typically follows the Welsh line: spirited, ardent, or zealous. Today it appeals for its sleek spelling and cross-cultural familiarity, with use most notable in the UK and other Anglophone regions.