Reece
Say it: REES
BoyMeans usually explained as "ardour", from the Welsh Rhys5 letters1 syllable
#402
in Ireland (2025)
#390 with spellings combined
9
babies in 2025
#82
best rank (2001)
1,232
babies since 1991
Down 196
10-year rank change
Reece through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #390 |
| 2024 | 11 | #339 |
| 2023 | 8 | #426 |
| 2022 | 19 | #242 |
| 2021 | 28 | #186 |
| 2020 | 21 | #224 |
| 2019 | 22 | #224 |
| 2018 | 28 | #199 |
| 2017 | 22 | #240 |
| 2016 | 35 | #168 |
| 2015 | 29 | #194 |
| 2014 | 35 | #175 |
| 2013 | 46 | #138 |
| 2012 | 53 | #133 |
| 2011 | 54 | #128 |
| 2010 | 63 | #114 |
| 2009 | 47 | #143 |
| 2008 | 68 | #114 |
| 2007 | 73 | #99 |
| 2006 | 61 | #101 |
| 2005 | 49 | #113 |
| 2004 | 45 | #120 |
| 2003 | 59 | #92 |
| 2002 | 49 | #101 |
| 2001 | 68 | #82 |
| 2000 | 51 | #98 |
| 1999 | 47 | #97 |
| 1998 | 37 | #110 |
| 1997 | 24 | #149 |
| 1996 | 19 | #160 |
| 1995 | 20 | #155 |
| 1994 | 9 | #208 |
| 1993 | 10 | #205 |
| 1992 | 6 | #251 |
| 1991 | 7 | #230 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Reece mean?
Usually explained as "ardour", from the Welsh Rhys
Welsh, an English spelling of Rhys, from Old Welsh Ris.
Say it right
REES
The story of Reece
Reece is an English way of spelling the Welsh name Rhys. Rhys comes from Old Welsh Ris, usually explained as “ardour” or “fiery warrior”, and it has been used in Wales since the Middle Ages. It was the name of several medieval Welsh princes. Reece, Reese and Rees also became surnames, and the name has passed back and forth between surname and first name.
In Ireland Reece first reached three babies a year in 1991. It was at its most popular in the 2000s: it reached number 82 in 2001, and its biggest year was 2007, with 73 boys. In 2025, 9 boys were named Reece.
It has been much more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 38 in 2006. The CSO counts Rhys as a separate name, and Rhys is now the more common of the two spellings.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Reece (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Rhys (Welsh proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Reece (name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Reece | 9 | 1,232 |
In Northern Ireland
#314 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #38 (2006); 1,087 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Reece is also given to girls: 5 since 1997.