Reece
Reece was the 460th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 675 babies. Its best year was 2001, when it ranked 344th with 798 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 111 places. More babies were named Reece in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Rhys) ardor, fiery warrior · Welsh
- Rank in 2025
- #460 boys, up 131 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 675boys
- Girls and boys
- 20% girls, 80% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2001798 babies
- Total since 1880
- 26,917babies recorded
What does the name Reece mean?
Reece is a spelling of Rhys, pronounced the same way, so it shares Rhys's meaning and origin.
Rhys is a Welsh name borne by several medieval Welsh princes, including Rhys ap Gruffydd (the Lord Rhys). DMNES derives it from Old Welsh rīs, "ardor" or "fiery warrior", and records English forms such as Rys, Ryce and Rees in the 16th century. Wiktionary notes the related surnames Price (ap Rhys), Rees, Reese and Rice.
rīs (Old Welsh, “ardor; fiery warrior”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Reese, Rees, Rice, Price.
See also: Welsh names, names that mean warrior.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Rhys', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Rhys', DMNES, Durham University
Reece popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,149 | #460 | 202 | 675 |
| 2020 | #1,541 | #591 | 138 | 470 |
| 2010 | #1,203 | #436 | 202 | 631 |
| 2000 | #1,726 | #387 | 102 | 661 |
| 1990 | — | #791 | — | 165 |
| 1980 | — | #1,538 | — | 40 |
| 1970 | — | #1,411 | — | 36 |
| 1960 | — | #1,517 | — | 29 |
| 1950 | — | #1,528 | — | 24 |
| 1940 | — | #1,304 | — | 27 |
| 1930 | — | #1,272 | — | 32 |
| 1920 | — | #1,223 | — | 36 |
| 1910 | — | #1,102 | — | 10 |
| 1900 | — | #1,280 | — | 6 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | #1,033 | — | 5 |
How popular is Reece, counting every spelling?
Reece is a spelling of Rhys, a name family that ranked #257 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #460 for Reece on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,469 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhys | 778 | #412 | 4,144 |
| Reece | 675 | #460 | 3,097 |
| Rhyse | 8 | #9,517 | 43 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Reece?
675 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Reece (0.19 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Reece born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 12 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Reece.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Reece?
About 20,100 people born in the US named Reece are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 10 and 25. That makes Reece mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Reece by state
How common Reece was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Nebraska (2.7×), Louisiana (2.2×), Kentucky (2.2×), Oklahoma (2.0×), Iowa (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New York, Kansas, Utah.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Reece: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Reece, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Reece
What does Reece mean?
Reece is a spelling of Rhys, which means “ardor, fiery warrior” (Welsh origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Reece?
Reece was the 460th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 675 babies. Its best year was 2001, when it ranked 344th with 798 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 111 places. More babies were named Reece in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Reece a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 20% girls, 80% boys given the name Reece in the US.
Where is Reece most popular?
In 2021–2025, Reece was most common in Nebraska (0.97 per 1,000 boys), followed by Louisiana and Kentucky.