Given name & surname
Reese
“having great enthusiasm for life”·“ardour”
Reese is a variant of Reece. One Welsh interpretation is “having great enthusiasm for life.” Reese is a variant of Rhys. Interpretations include “ardour” and “having great enthusiasm for life” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Reese is a variant of Reece. One Welsh interpretation is “having great enthusiasm for life.” Reese is a variant of Rhys. Interpretations include “ardour” and “having great enthusiasm for life” (Welsh). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Reese is a variant of Reece. An origin associated with Reece is Welsh.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Reese developed from Rhys.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Reese through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 64,381
- 19,606 boys · 44,775 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 2,950 babies
- 2025
- 2,106
- #192 for girls · #603 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 18% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,631 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 192 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,459 in 2012. It also appeared in 475 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (151). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 48,829 as a first name in 2020; 71,141 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Reese’s family of names
In English usage, Reese developed from the Welsh form Rhys. Reese has a related form in Reece. Reese has a related form in Rhys.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Reese has relatives in 4 languages.
6 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Reese
- Reese HoffaAmerican shot putterborn 1977
- Reese BrantmeierUS American tennis playerborn 2004
- Reese StalderAmerican tennis player (born 1996)
- Reese MishlerAmerican actorborn 1991
- Reese WynansAmerican musicianborn 1947
- Reese LynchScottish boxerborn 2001
- Reese HannemanAmerican cross-country skierborn 1989
- Reese C. De GraffenreidAmerican politician (1859-1902)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Reese, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rylee
“from the rye clearing; a courageous woman” · “from the rye clearing”
4% boys · 96% girls
Rylie
“from the rye clearing” · “from the rye clearing; a courageous woman”
3% boys · 97% girls
Riley
“from the rye clearing; a courageous woman”
22% boys · 78% girls
Gracie
In English and Scottish use, Gracie is an affectionate form of Grace. As a name, Grace carries the word’s association with divine favour. Grace’s meaning comes from a vocabulary word rather than a compound of older personal names.
>99% girls
Nevaeh
“child from heaven”
>99% girls
Elise
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Grace
Grace is an English word name with religious roots and later associations with both public figures and everyday naming traditions.
>99% girls
Kate
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls