Rei
Every Rei since 1974 — 1,028 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rei
Rei is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #5,364 in 2025 with 24 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1974, 1,028 American babies have been named Rei — about 54% girls and 46% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2019, when 67 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rei stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rei year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | #5,364 | 35 | #3,363 |
| 2024 | 27 | #4,997 | 29 | #3,874 |
| 2023 | 27 | #4,968 | 19 | #5,203 |
| 2022 | 21 | #5,940 | 19 | #5,175 |
| 2021 | 33 | #4,304 | 34 | #3,404 |
| 2020 | 48 | #3,269 | 16 | #5,643 |
| 2019 | 37 | #3,985 | 30 | #3,698 |
| 2018 | 33 | #4,328 | 28 | #3,865 |
| 2017 | 40 | #3,829 | 22 | #4,565 |
| 2016 | 27 | #5,098 | 14 | #6,277 |
| 2015 | 13 | #8,844 | 21 | #4,673 |
| 2014 | 5 | #18,627 | 9 | #8,639 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10,107 | 6 | #11,841 |
| 2012 | 16 | #7,718 | 8 | #9,514 |
| 2011 | 21 | #6,297 | 14 | #6,182 |
| 2010 | 14 | #8,618 | 15 | #5,972 |
| 2009 | 9 | #12,232 | 13 | #6,728 |
| 2008 | 10 | #11,425 | 21 | #4,670 |
| 2007 | 15 | #8,436 | 14 | #6,195 |
| 2006 | 8 | #13,345 | 8 | #9,372 |
| 2005 | 13 | #8,756 | 8 | #8,925 |
| 2004 | 13 | #8,612 | 13 | #6,066 |
| 2003 | 14 | #7,909 | 16 | #4,990 |
| 2002 | 12 | #8,710 | 12 | #5,996 |
| 2001 | 7 | #13,168 | 8 | #8,149 |
| 2000 | — | — | 10 | #6,719 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,994 | — | — |
| 1990 | 7 | #11,080 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Rei
- Rei Kawakubo Politician · b. 1942
- Rei Sakuma Actor · b. 1965
- Rei Higuchi Wrestler · b. 1996
- Rei Matsumoto Soccer player · b. 1988
- Rei Hirakawa Soccer player · b. 2000
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Rei in 2025?
Rei ranked #5,364 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 24 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rei?
1,028 babies have been named Rei in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rei most popular?
Rei peaked in 2019, when 67 newborns received the name.
Is Rei a boy or girl name?
Rei is used for both: about 54% of babies named Rei have been girls and 46% boys.
Is the name Rei rising or falling?
Rei is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rei?
Well-known people named Rei include Rei Kawakubo (politician), Rei Sakuma (actor), Rei Higuchi (wrestler).