UK name, mostly girls
Rey
A unisex name of Spanish origin meaning "king".
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.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 106 boys.
Rey is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Rey popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 21 births.
This profile covers 151 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 160 living people in the UK are called Rey. 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
- • Rey ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 21 girls were registered as Rey.
- • Rey ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #809 in 2018.
- • Rey is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 160 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rey as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 58.8% of Rey registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2017
21 births
Estimated living
160
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Rey
In England and Wales birth records, Rey has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 41.2% of registrations are for boys and 58.8% 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.
Rey registered for boys
- Ranked #2,443 in 2024
- 9 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2019 (12 births)
Rey registered for girls
- Ranked #2,253 in 2024
- 12 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (21 births)
Meaning
What does Rey mean?
The name Rey has its origins in the Spanish language and culture. It is a masculine name that is derived from the Spanish word "rey," which means "king." The name likely originated in medieval times, during the era of Spanish monarchies and royal dynasties.
In ancient Spanish texts and historical records, the name Rey was often used to refer to actual kings or rulers. It was a title of respect and authority, signifying the highest rank in the kingdom. As a given name, it likely emerged as a way to honor or commemorate a ruling monarch or to express a desire for the child to possess qualities associated with kingship, such as leadership, power, and nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rey dates back to the 13th century, when a Spanish nobleman named Rey de Castilla was mentioned in chronicles from the reign of King Alfonso X. However, it is possible that the name was in use even earlier, as written records from that time period were often incomplete or lost.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rey. One of the most famous was Rey Pastor, a Spanish mathematician and educator who lived from 1888 to 1962. He made significant contributions to the fields of functional analysis and mathematical analysis, and was a professor at the University of Madrid.
Another prominent figure was Rey Manaj, an Albanian revolutionary and leader of the Kachak movement, which fought against Ottoman rule in the early 20th century. He was born in 1872 and played a crucial role in the struggle for Albanian independence.
In the realm of sports, Rey Mysterio is a well-known Mexican professional wrestler who has achieved great success in both WWE and lucha libre. Born in 1974, he is renowned for his high-flying style and has won numerous championships throughout his career.
Rey Pila was a Filipino boxer and world champion who competed in the 1920s and 1930s. Born in 1899, he held the World Flyweight title from 1923 to 1925 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.
Finally, Rey Negrón was a Puerto Rican actor and comedian who became a popular figure in Latin American television and films during the mid-20th century. Born in 1928, he was known for his comedic roles and his ability to bring laughter to audiences across various Spanish-speaking countries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rey over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rey in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Rey, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rey by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rey 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 | #1860 | 79 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1673 | 72 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rey is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rey. 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.
Rey ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #809 in 2018.
Across the UK
Rey in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#809 in 2018
3 years of NRS records, 10 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rey
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rey: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rey in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rey was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Rey most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 21 babies registered as Rey in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rey?
A unisex name of Spanish origin meaning "king".
How many people are called Rey in the UK?
A total of 151 babies have been registered as Rey across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 10 more in Scotland.
Where is Rey most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rey ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #809 in 2018. 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.