Reese
Reese is an anglicised spelling of the Welsh name Rhys. It is now a unisex given name which means wreath or garland. It also means "ardent" or "fiery". In the United States, the name has become a unisex name, often given to females as well as males.
- Welsh
- English
Meaning & Origin of Reese
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Reese is an anglicised spelling of the Welsh name Rhys. It is now a unisex given name which means wreath or garland. It also means "ardent" or "fiery". In the United States, the name has become a unisex name, often given to females as well as males.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Welsh
- English
The Story of Reese
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Reese as a girl name dates back to 1924, when 6 babies received it. 2012 was its biggest year on record, with 2,459 newborns named Reese — #128 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 44% of all recorded Reeses. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #202 among girl names with 1,523 births, gradually falling (-12%). In total, more than 46K Reeses have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Reese as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 6 babies received it. 2003 was its biggest year on record, with 709 newborns named Reese — #368 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 32% of all recorded Reeses. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #593 among boy names with 488 births, rising sharply (+29% over the past five years). In total, more than 20K Reeses have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Reese
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Reese. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Reese
Phonetically similar names — useful when Reese is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Reese
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How popular is Reese in 2026?
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Is Reese a unisex name?
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About the name Reese
Reese is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1924 and has accumulated 46K births in the dataset. Reese's peak popularity came in 2012 when it ranked #128. Use the chart and map above to compare Reese's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2012 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.