Unisex name · Welsh
Reese
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: ardor, enthusiasmReese is a gender-neutral name that comes from Welsh and means "ardor, enthusiasm". It is used in English and Welsh.
- Meaning
- Ardor, enthusiasm
- Origin
- Welsh
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #192 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Reese
As a gender-neutral name, Reese comes from Welsh and means "ardor, enthusiasm". It is used in English and Welsh.
As a girl's name, Reese comes from Welsh and means "enthusiasm, ardor". It is used in English.
Reese is also a surname: the 454th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 71,141 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Reese on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Reese on 2 lists.
“Ardor, enthusiasm; an English spelling of the Welsh Rhys”
From Gender neutral names, popular gender-neutral names
“Enthusiasm, ardor; Welsh. Modern and bright”
From Girl middle names, one-syllable girl middle names
How popular is Reese?
In 2025, 1,631 girls and 475 boys in the US were named Reese.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #192
- 1,631 babies, 1,015 per million girls
- Best rank
- #128 in 2012
- 2,459 babies that year
- Babies since 1924
- At least 44,775
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 1 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 21 per million |
| 2000s | 748 per million |
| 2010s | 1,153 per million |
| 2020s | 1,067 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #180 | #171 | #159 | #159 | #146 | #148 | #168 | #174 | #190 | #192 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #603
- 475 babies, 278 per million boys
- Best rank
- #369 in 2003
- 709 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 19,606
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 74 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 80 per million |
| 1900s | 76 per million |
| 1910s | 56 per million |
| 1920s | 47 per million |
| 1930s | 34 per million |
| 1940s | 27 per million |
| 1950s | 25 per million |
| 1960s | 29 per million |
| 1970s | 30 per million |
| 1980s | 41 per million |
| 1990s | 119 per million |
| 2000s | 323 per million |
| 2010s | 218 per million |
| 2020s | 242 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #673 | #689 | #660 | #762 | #733 | #703 | #647 | #632 | #621 | #603 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Reese
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- RhysArdor, enthusiasm (Welsh, boy)
Names spelled like Reese
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Middle names for Reese
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Welsh
- SabrinaFrom Sabrina, the Latin name of the River Severn (Welsh, girl)
- DylanTide, flow (Welsh, boy)
- GwenWhite, fair, blessed (Welsh, girl)
- GwendolynBlessed ring (Welsh, girl)
- HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
- LloydGrey (Welsh, boy)
- LynnLake (Welsh, unisex)
- MeganA pearl (Welsh, girl)
- OwenAnglicized form of Owain, possibly from Latin Eugenius (Welsh, boy)
- RhiannonGreat queen (Welsh, girl)
- TeganFair, beautiful (Welsh, girl)
- WynnFair, white, blessed (Welsh, unisex)
- AngharadMuch loved (Welsh, girl)
- AnwenVery fair, very blessed (Welsh, girl)
- ArianwenSilver white (Welsh, girl)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- BerwynWhite head (Welsh, boy)
- BleddynLittle wolf (Welsh, boy)
Reese: common questions
What does the name Reese mean?
Reese comes from Welsh and means "ardor, enthusiasm". It also has another origin: "enthusiasm, ardor" from Welsh.
Is Reese a boy or girl name?
Reese is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,631 girls and 475 boys in the US were named Reese, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Reese come from?
Reese comes from Welsh and means "ardor, enthusiasm". Today it is used in English and Welsh.
How popular is the name Reese?
Reese ranked #192 in the US in 2025, with 1,631 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Reese?
Forms of Reese with the same meaning and origin include Rhys (English).
What middle names go with Reese?
Middle names that flow well with Reese include Alexander, Ambrose, Conrad, Heather and Josiah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.