UK name, mostly boys
Reece
Derived from the Welsh name Rhys, meaning enthusiasm or ardent.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Reece is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Reece popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #592, with 64 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 1,811 births.
This profile covers 24,329 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28,298 living people in the UK are called Reece. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Reece ranked #592 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 64 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 1,811 boys were registered as Reece.
- • Reece ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #246 in 2024.
- • About 28,298 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reece as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.6% of Reece registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#592
2024
Births in 2024
64
Latest year
Peak year
1996
1,811 births
Estimated living
28,298
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Reece
In England and Wales birth records, Reece has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 99.6% of registrations are for boys and 0.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Reece registered for boys
- Ranked #592 in 2024
- 64 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 1996 (1,811 births)
Reece registered for girls
- Ranked #5,691 in 2014
- 3 girls registered in 2014
- Peak: 1997 (18 births)
Meaning
What does Reece mean?
The name Reece has its origins in the Welsh language and culture, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "rhys," which means "ardor" or "enthusiasm." The name gained popularity in Wales during the Middle Ages and was often associated with individuals of prominent status or nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reece can be found in the historical records of the Welsh princes and rulers. In the 12th century, a Welsh prince named Rhys ap Gruffydd, also known as The Lord Rhys, played a significant role in the struggle against Norman rule in Wales. His legacy contributed to the enduring popularity of the name among the Welsh people.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Reece or its variations. One such individual was Reece Winstone (1900-1991), a Welsh actor known for his roles in films like "The Elephant Man" and "The Dresser." Another prominent bearer of the name was Reece Shearsmith (born 1969), an English actor, writer, and comedian best known for his work in shows like "The League of Gentlemen" and "Inside No. 9."
In the literary realm, Reece Pemberton (1904-1950) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works often explored themes of race and social injustice. Additionally, Reece Wilkinson (1890-1968) was a British artist known for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life.
While the name Reece has Welsh roots, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages. For instance, in English-speaking countries, the name has gained popularity as a variant of the more common name "Rhys." It has also been used as a surname, although this report focuses solely on its use as a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Reece over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Reece in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Reece, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 64 births in 2024, compared with 1,811 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Reece by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reece was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #446 | 478 | 5 |
| 2010s | #194 | 3,735 | 10 |
| 2000s | #54 | 13,194 | 10 |
| 1990s | #42 | 6,922 | 4 |
Geography
Where Reece is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Reece. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Reece ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #246 in 2024.
Across the UK
Reece in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#246 in 2024
38 years of NRS records, 3,155 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#404 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 1,082 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Reece
-
Reece Johnson
association football player
English footballer
2006-
-
Reece McAlear
association football player
Scottish footballer
2002-
-
Reece Staunton
association football player
Footballer (born 2001)
2001-
-
Reece Lyon
association football player
association football player (born 2000)
2000-
-
Reece Hutchinson
association football player
English association football player (born 2000)
2000-
-
Reece Webb-Foster
association football player
British association football player (born 1998)
1998-
-
Reece Prescod
athletics competitor
British sprinter
1996-
-
Reece Wilson
sport cyclist; mountain biker
British cyclist
1996-
Related
Names similar to Reece
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
- Richard 8,565
FAQ
Reece: questions and answers
How popular is the name Reece in the UK right now?
In 2024, Reece was ranked #592 for boys in England and Wales, with 64 births registered.
When was Reece most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 1,811 babies registered as Reece in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Reece?
Derived from the Welsh name Rhys, meaning enthusiasm or ardent.
How many people are called Reece in the UK?
A total of 24,329 babies have been registered as Reece across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3,155 more in Scotland and 1,082 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Reece most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Reece ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #246 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.