Origin, Meaning, And History Of Rei
The name Rei is a gender-neutral name that has Japanese and Hebrew origins. Its Japanese roots can be traced back to the word “rei,” which means ‘bell,’ ‘beautiful,’ ‘lovely,’ or ‘the tinkling of jade.’ The Hebrew version of the name comes from biblical texts and means ‘my shepherd,’ ‘my companion,’ or ‘my friend.’
Rei is not only a given name but also a surname that has a rich history. The region of France has produced numerous noble families, and the Rei family is among them. As a surname, Rei is considered a nickname type, often bestowed upon someone with a dignified bearing or someone who played the role of a king during local festivals. The name Rei has an Old French origin, specifically from the word “roy,” which translates to ‘king.’
The family name Rei has several spelling variations, which include Raies, De Laray, Rays, Raie, Rayes, de Ray, Rées, Rey, Delurey, Reys, Reis, Duray, Ray, Leray, Rait, Laray, Raye, du Ray, and Rée.
The common variations of the name Rei based on different languages and cultures include Reizo (Japanese), Rey (Spanish), and Li, Ling (Chinese).
The name Rei has been used for several fictional characters across various forms of media. One of the most popular characters with this name is Rei Hino, a member of the Sailor Scouts in the Japanese manga seriesSailor Moon. Other notable characters include Rei Furuya, a detective in the manga seriesDetective Conan, and Rei Miyamoto, a high school student in the manga seriesHighschool of the Dead. Rei Hasekura appears in the light novel seriesMaria-sama ga Miteru, while Rei Hizuki is a character in the anime seriesSky Girls.
Additionally, Rei Kashino is a character in another manga seriesMars, and Rei Katsura appears in the anime seriesDigimon Universe: Appli Monsters. Lastly, Rei Sakuma is a character in theEnsemble Starsseries, Rei Toei appears in the novel seriesBridge trilogy, and Rei Suzumura is a character in the tokusatsu seriesGaro.
How To Pronounce Rei?
Famous People With The Name Rei
- Rei Dan (Mayumi Yamazaki)Japanese actress, well known for her role in the film “Kabei: Our Mother”
- Rei OkamotoJapanese model and actress, famous for her role in the cell phone novel series “Threads of Destiny”
- Rei SakumaJapanese voice actress, famous for her voice work in the series “Soreike! Anpanman”
- Rei OmishiJapanese screenwriter and manga artist, famous for illustrating the manga series “Sorcerer Hunters”
- Rei SatoJapanese badminton player, won the men’s singles title at the Portugal International tournament in 2014
Rei On The Popularity Chart
Check the popularity and ranking of the name from the graphical representations given below.
Popularity Over Time
The popularity of Rei has fluctuated over the years. It reached its peak in 2020, with 48 babies per million sharing the name.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The ranking of the name, too, has varied over the years. However, it has improved drastically since 2014. In 2021, it stood at the 4,273rd position.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Rei
If you like the way Rei sounds, you might like these names that sound similar to it.
Popular Sibling Names For Rei
Other Popular Names Beginning With R
Names With Similar Meaning As Rei
Check out this list of names with similar connotations if the meaning of the name Rei resonated with you, but you’d like to consider other possibilities.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
rei
In Sign Language
rei
In Braille Alphabet
rei
In Morse Code
rei
Name Numerology For Rei
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Rei?
The name Rei means ‘a beautiful and lovely bell.’
2. What is the origin of the name Rei?
Rei has a Japanese origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Rei?
Rei is pronounced as rei.
4. How popular is the name Rei?
Rei is an uncommon name. According to the SSA data, the name has never featured in the top 1000 names in the US since the 1900s (1).
5. Is Rei a biblical name?
Yes, Rei can be considered a biblical name since it has been mentioned in the Bible as the name of a member of David’s court who remained loyal during the conspiracy of Adonijah (2).
6. Is Rei Japanese or Korean?
Rei is predominantly a Japanese name with many meanings. However, it has no known connection with Korean culture.
References:
- Popularity of name Rei.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/ - Rei
https://www.bibleodyssey.org/glossary/rei/
