Rei

♀ Girl

Pronounced RAY /ˈreɪ/Medium

Meaning: From Japanese rei — 'spirit, soul', 'a bell', 'lovely, beautiful', or 'gratitude' (the meaning depends on the kanji); here for girlsLow

In 30 seconds: Spirit and grace: Rei is Japanese for 'spirit, soul' (or 'a bell', or 'lovely'). Crisp, soft, and modern. Used for both sexes.

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Origin MediumJapanese

MeaningFrom Japanese rei — 'spirit, soul', 'a bell', 'lovely, beautiful', or 'gratitude' (the meaning depends on the kanji); here for girls

U.S. rank (2025)#5364 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 550

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rei comes from Japanese rei — variously 'spirit, soul', 'a bell', 'lovely, beautiful', or 'gratitude' (the meaning depends on the kanji, which we note). A crisp, soft, modern name across Japan, used for both sexes, here for girls (said 'RAY').

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese families. Rare, spirit-or-bell at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Rei means 'spirit, soul', 'a bell', or 'lovely, beautiful' in Japanese, depending on the kanji — a crisp, modern name (said 'RAY'), used for both sexes.

Overall data confidence 60%

Japanese references — rei — kanji-dependent

Variations

RayReiraReiko

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rei…

Ren— a companion short Japanese name

Mei— another soft Japanese name

Kai— the same unisex feel

Koi— shares the -i ending

Mai— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rei mean?

Rei is Japanese for 'spirit, soul', 'a bell', or 'lovely' (kanji-dependent).

How do you pronounce Rei?

It's said RAY /ˈreɪ/ — a single syllable.

Is Rei a boy or girl name?

Rei is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Rei?

Rei is a rare name in the U.S.