Rei is both a Japanese given name and a Hebrew given name. In Hebrew, the name Rei (רעי Re`eeY) originates in biblical texts which mean "my shepherd; my companion; my friend". In Japanese it could have different meanings depending on the used kanji. The word 'Rei' can be used for (or by) either gender. In the Hebrew Bible REI is an Israelite loyal to David at the time of the usurpation of Adonijah, who remained firm to David's cause when Adonijah rebelled.^[1]

Possible Japanese writings

• 麗, "lovely, graceful, beautiful"
• 霊, "spirit, ghost, departed soul"
• 例, "example, custom, usage, usual"
• 零, "zero"
• 玲, "exquisite, clever, sound of jewels"
• 令, "rule, order, command"
• 礼, "etiquette, bow, gratitude"
• 怜, "wise"
• 鈴, "small bell"
• 嶺, "peak, summit, mountain top"
• 黎, "black, dark, many"
• 澪, "water route, shipping canal"
• 励, "encourage, inspire"
• 伶, "actor"
• 苓, "plant, herb, mushroom"
• 禮, "manners, social custom, honor"
• 齢, "age"
• 冷, "cool, chill"
• 蛎, "oyster"
• 砺, "whetstone, polish"
• 戻, "return, resume, go backwards"
• 蠣, "oyster"
• レイ, Rei written in katakana
• れい, Rei written in hiragana

People with the name

• Rei Dan (檀れい, born 1971), actress
• Ray Fujita (藤田玲, born 1988), actor
• Rei Gesing (born 1973), german author
• Rei Hiroe (広江 礼威, born 1972), manga artist
• Rei Igarashi (大濱 貴子, born 1963), actress and voice actress
• Rei Kawakubo (川久保 玲, born 1942), fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons
• Rei Kikukawa (菊川 怜, born 1978), actress, model and television presenter
• Rei Mikamoto (三家本 礼, born 1974), horror manga artist
• Rei Nakano (中野澪, born 1999), actor
• Rei Okamoto (岡本玲, born 1991), model and actress
• Rei Omishi (臣士れい, born 19--), screenwriter and manga author/artist
• Rei Otori (大鳥れい, born 1973), actress
• Rei Sakuma (佐久間 レイ, born 1965), voice actor
• Rei Sato (badminton) (佐藤 黎, born 1990), Japanese badminton player
• Rei Sato (motorcyclist) (佐藤 励, born 2000), Japanese motorcycle racer
• Rei Takahashi (高橋 礼, born 1995), Japanese baseball player
• Rei Takedomi, Japanese shogi player
• Rei Yoshii (吉井怜, born 1992), actress
• Rei Naoi (直井怜, born 2004), singer, rapper

Other people

• Rei Berroa (born 1949), Dominican-American poet, university professor, literary and cultural critic, and translator

Fictional characters

• Rei (Breath of Fire character), a character in the video game Breath of Fire III
• Rei (Fist of the North Star character), a character in the manga series Fist of the North Star
• Rei, a character in the video game Ōkami
• Rei, a character in the video game Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
• Rei (Urusei Yatsura), a character in the manga series Urusei Yatsura
• Rei Amayado, a character in the multimedia project Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle
• Rei Ayanami, a character in the media franchise Neon Genesis Evangelion
• Rei Furuya, a character in the manga series Detective Conan
• Rei Hasekura, a character in the light novel series Maria-sama ga Miteru
• Rei Hino, a character in the anime and manga series Sailor Moon
• Rei Hizuki, a character in the anime series Sky Girls
• Rei Hōōmaru, a character in the anime series Kill la Kill
• Rei Houjou, a character in the manga series Mirai Nikki
• Rei Kashino, a character in the manga and drama series Mars
• Rei Katsura, a character in the anime series Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters
• Rei Kiriyama, protagonist of the manga series March Comes in Like a Lion
• Rei Kizaki, a character in the anime series Aikatsu Stars!
• Rei Kohmyoji, a character in the OVA series Kikaider 01: The Animation
• Rei Kon, a character in the anime series Beyblade
• Rei Kurosawa, a character in the video game series Fatal Frame
• Rei Mekaru (銘苅 冷), the Ultimate Professor, from Danganronpa Another Despair Academy
• Rei Miyamoto, a character in the manga series Highschool of the Dead
• Rei Ogami, a character in the anime and manga series Code:Breaker
• Rei Ryghts, a character in the video game Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory
• Rei Ryugazaki, a character in the anime series Free!
• Rei Sagara, a character in the anime and manga series Love Stage!!
• Rei Sakuma, a character in the Ensemble Stars series
• Rei Saotome (早乙女レイ)(Blair Flannigan), a character in the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
• Rei Shimizu (志水礼), a character in the video game series Danganronpa
• Rei Suwa (諏訪零), a character in the anime Buddy Daddies
• Rei Suzumura, a character in the tokusatsu series Garo
• Rei Suzuya, a character in the manga series Tokyo Ghoul
• Rei Tachibana, a character in the tokusatsu series Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
• Rei Takashima, a character in the manga series Deadman Wonderland
• Rei Todoroki (轟 冷), a character in the manga series My Hero Academia
• Rei Toei, a character in the novel series Bridge trilogy
• Rei Wakana, a character in the media franchise BanG Dream!
• Rei Yozora, one of the main characters of the anime Shin Hakkenden
• Rei Batsubami (×喰零), a character in the manga/anime Kakegurui

References