Noah Boy
NOH-uh
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Reece
UnisexWelsh· “ardor, enthusiasm”
- Meaning
- ardor, enthusiasm
- Origin
- Welsh
- Pronunciation
- REES
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #460
- US babies 2025
- 675
- Best rank
- #344 (2001)
- Peak year
- 2001
Meaning and origin of Reece
Reece is a Welsh name that means “ardor, enthusiasm”.
Reece is an English spelling of the Welsh name Rhys, usually explained as meaning ardor or enthusiasm. Rhys was borne by several medieval Welsh rulers, including Rhys ap Gruffydd, who ruled the kingdom of Deheubarth in the twelfth century. The name passed into English as a surname in forms such as Rees, Reese and Price, which comes from ap Rhys, son of Rhys. As a first name Reece is used for boys and increasingly for girls. It is short and friendly, with a clean single-syllable sound.
Popularity over time
Reece has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 52 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #344 in 2001, the same year it reached its highest count of 798 babies. In 2025, 675 babies were named Reece, and it ranked #460 nationally. That is 37% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,223 in 1920, #1,528 in 1950, #1,538 in 1980, #387 in 2000, #436 in 2010, and #460 in 2025. Of the 21,968 US boys named Reece since records began, 33% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 5,199 babies. Since 2010, 8,766 more have been named Reece.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Sidney, Devyn, and Skyler.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Reece ranked highest in New Hampshire, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #182 | 8 |
| South Dakota | #216 | 7 |
| West Virginia | #247 | 8 |
| Montana | #278 | 5 |
| Nebraska | #286 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Reece is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Reece were girls and 75% were boys.
Reece is usually pronounced REES, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with R and ends in “-ce”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Reese and Rhys.
Middle names for Reece
A few middle names that flow with Reece: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Reece
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Lists that include Reece
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Reece mean?
Reece is a Welsh name that means “ardor, enthusiasm”.
What is the origin of the name Reece?
Reece has Welsh roots. Reece is an English spelling of the Welsh name Rhys, usually explained as meaning ardor or enthusiasm.
Is Reece a popular name?
Yes. Reece ranked #460 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Reece a boy or girl name?
Reece is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 25% of US babies named Reece were girls and 75% were boys.
How do you pronounce Reece?
Reece is usually pronounced REES. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings