Rey Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAY //reɪ//
Origin: Spanish; English
Meaning: Spanish: king; English: a variant of Ray
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Rey has its roots in the Latin word "rex," meaning "king." This term evolved through various languages, including Old French, where it became "rei," and later influenced the Spanish word "rey," which also translates to "king." The transition into English occurred through the adoption of these Romance languages, particularly during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Latin-derived terms entered the English lexicon, although the direct use of Rey as a name in English is less common than its Spanish counterpart. Historically, the name Rey has been associated with nobility and leadership, reflecting its meaning.
It resonates with various historical figures, including kings and rulers across different cultures. In the context of the Christian tradition, the name may evoke associations with kingship as seen in biblical narratives, such as the references to King David and King Solomon, who are significant figures in both the Old Testament and the broader Judeo-Christian tradition.
The name's regal connotation has contributed to its use in literature and the arts, often symbolizing authority and power. Culturally, the name Rey has been embraced in various forms across different languages and traditions.
In Spanish-speaking cultures, it is not only a name but also a title of respect and authority. The name's association with kingship has made it a popular choice for characters in literature and film, often embodying traits of leadership and valor.
Additionally, diminutive forms like "Reyito" may be used affectionately in familial contexts, though they are less formal. Overall, Rey carries a rich historical and cultural significance that underscores its enduring appeal.
Famous people named Rey
In this section, you will find notable people named Rey. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rey who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Rey who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Rey Mysterio is a professional wrestler best known for WWE, WCW, and Lucha Libre.
Fictional characters named Rey
The following list of fictional characters named Rey is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Rey is a fictional character from the Star Wars sequel trilogy. She is a scavenger who becomes a key figure in the Resistance against the First Order.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rey, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rey. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Rey was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Rey has ranked as high as #1037 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Arizona.
In the past 5 years the name Rey has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Rey is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rey was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Rey (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 89 | |
| TX | 78 | |
| FL | 15 | |
| NY | 12 | |
| AZ | 11 | |
| IL | 8 | |
| NC | 7 | |
| UT | 7 | |
| IN | 7 | |
| KS | 7 | |
| WA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rey.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 303 |
| 2023 | 317 |
| 2022 | 320 |
| 2021 | 328 |
| 2020 | 257 |
| 2019 | 287 |
| 2018 | 314 |
| 2017 | 303 |
| 2016 | 256 |
| 2015 | 242 |
| 2014 | 245 |
| 2013 | 229 |
| 2012 | 225 |
| 2011 | 212 |
| 2010 | 249 |
| 2009 | 232 |
| 2008 | 247 |
| 2007 | 215 |
| 2006 | 236 |
| 2005 | 199 |
| 2004 | 170 |
| 2003 | 173 |
| 2002 | 177 |
| 2001 | 155 |
| 2000 | 151 |
| 1999 | 149 |
| 1998 | 137 |
| 1997 | 120 |
| 1996 | 119 |
| 1995 | 113 |
| 1994 | 101 |
| 1993 | 109 |
| 1992 | 90 |
| 1991 | 112 |
| 1990 | 98 |
| 1989 | 80 |
| 1988 | 78 |
| 1987 | 66 |
| 1986 | 76 |
| 1985 | 69 |
| 1984 | 61 |
| 1983 | 60 |
| 1982 | 53 |
| 1981 | 70 |
| 1980 | 46 |
| 1979 | 59 |
| 1978 | 50 |
| 1977 | 48 |
| 1976 | 52 |
| 1975 | 50 |
| 1974 | 52 |
| 1973 | 46 |
| 1972 | 53 |
| 1971 | 51 |
| 1970 | 45 |
| 1969 | 46 |
| 1968 | 35 |
| 1967 | 40 |
| 1966 | 26 |
| 1965 | 37 |
| 1964 | 51 |
| 1963 | 56 |
| 1962 | 46 |
| 1961 | 50 |
| 1960 | 54 |
| 1959 | 49 |
| 1958 | 42 |
| 1957 | 32 |
| 1956 | 32 |
| 1955 | 30 |
| 1954 | 21 |
| 1953 | 28 |
| 1952 | 24 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1950 | 20 |
| 1949 | 22 |
| 1948 | 17 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 18 |
| 1945 | 16 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 15 |
| 1942 | 12 |
| 1941 | 7 |
| 1940 | 11 |
| 1939 | 6 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 10 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1933 | 13 |
| 1932 | 13 |
| 1931 | 14 |
| 1930 | 6 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1923 | 11 |
| 1922 | 5 |
| 1921 | 5 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1918 | 5 |
| 1917 | 5 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 5 |