Rei is both a Japanese given name and a Hebrew given name. In Japanese it could have different meanings depending on the used

kanji are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...

and can be used for (or by) either gender. In Hebrew, the name Rei (רעי Re`eeY) originates in biblical texts which mean "my shepherd; my companion; my friend". In the Hebrew Bible, Rei is an Israelite loyal to

King David David (; , "beloved one") was a king of ancient Israel and Judah and the third king of the United Monarchy, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament. The Tel Dan stele, an Aramaic-inscribed stone erected by a king of Aram-Damas ...

at the time of the usurpation of

Adonijah According to 2 Samuel, Adonijah (, ''’Ǎḏōnīyyā''; "my lord is Yah") was the fourth son of King David. His mother was Haggith as recorded in the book of . Adonijah was born at Hebron during the long conflict between David and the House o ...

, who remained firm to David's cause when Adonijah rebelled.1st Kings 1:8

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 is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji and in some cases the Latin script (known as rōmaji). The word ''katakana'' means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana characters are derived fr ...

*れい, Rei written in

hiragana is a Japanese language, Japanese syllabary, part of the Japanese writing system, along with ''katakana'' as well as ''kanji''. It is a phonetic lettering system. The word ''hiragana'' means "common" or "plain" kana (originally also "easy", ...

People with the name

* Rei Dan (檀れい, born 1971), actress *

Ray Fujita , is a Japanese actor and musician from Tokyo. His mother is Japanese and his father is French. His most notable roles to date are as Kitazaki/Dragon Orphnoch in the 2003 series ''Kamen Rider 555'' and Rei Suzumura/ZERO the Silver Fanged Knigh ...

(藤田玲, born 1988), actor * Rei Hanagata (born 1990), Japanese manga artist and a manga script writer *, Japanese record producer *, Japanese freestyle wrestler *, Japanese professional footballer *

Rei Hiroe is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his manga ''Black Lagoon''. When he is working on ''doujin'' comics he goes by the name Red Bear. Hiroe's manga were originally published by Kadokawa Shoten in the 1990s but none were complete. As a r ...

(広江礼威, born 1972), manga artist *, Japanese footballer *

Rei Igarashi , better known by the stage name , is a Japanese actress and voice actress who works for Rush Style. She is married to fellow voice actor Show Hayami, and is the mother of the Japanese voice actor Hideyuki Hayami. Filmography Anime *'' Brave of ...

(大濱貴子, born 1963), actress and voice actress *, Japanese former synchronized swimmer *

Rei Kawakubo (born 11 October 1942) is a Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. She is the founder of Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market. In recognition of the notable design contributions of Kawakubo, an exhibition of her designs en ...

(川久保玲, born 1942), fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons * Rei Kihara Osaki (1918–2006), Japanese American female lawyer * Rei Kikukawa (菊川怜, born 1978), actress, model and television presenter *, Japanese football player *, Japanese voice actress *

Rei Mikamoto is a Japanese horror manga artist who wrote and illustrated , , and . The last was adapted in 2010 as a feature movie as '' Big Tits Zombie''. Style Many of Rei's works involve themes of powerful (and sometimes psychotic) female casts that ser ...

(三家本礼, born 1974), horror manga artist *, Japanese artist *, Japanese novelist and songwriter *, Japanese singer *, Japanese softball player * Rei Naoi (直井怜, born 2004), singer, rapper *, Japanese long-distance runner *

Rei Okamoto is a Japanese model and actress who stars as Mia Amagishi in '' Threads of Destiny''. She also appears in the NHK Asadora , colloquially known as , is a serialized, 15 minutes per episode, Japanese television drama program series broadcast i ...

(岡本玲, born 1991), model and actress *

Rei Omishi is a Japanese screenwriter and manga artist. She is best known for illustrating the ''Sorcerer Hunters'' manga series, which was based on the light novels written by Satoru Akahori, and which was adapted into an anime series. Her other works in ...

(臣士れい, born 19--), screenwriter and manga author/artist *, Japanese tennis player *

Rei Sakuma is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and narrator from Tokyo, Japan. She is best known in Japan for her voice work as Batako in the long running children's series '' Soreike! Anpanman''. Her most famous role in the English-speaking wor ...

(佐久間レイ, born 1965), voice actor *, Japanese badminton player *, Japanese motorcycle racer *, Japanese professional footballer *, Japanese professional footballer *, Japanese baseball player * Rei Takedomi, Japanese shogi player *, Japanese freestyle swimmer *, Japanese gravure idol *, Japanese singer and model *, Japanese football player *

Rei Yoshii is a Japanese actress and gravure idol. She married actor Shigenori Yamazaki on November 11, 2016. Filmography Musicals *'' Rock Musical Bleach'' as Orihime Inoue *'' Rock Musical Bleach Saien'' as Orihime Inoue Movies *'' Love My Life'' (? ...

(吉井怜, born 1992), actress *, Japanese actress

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 is a 2006 action-adventure game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. It was released for PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and North America, and in 2007 in Europe and Australia. After the closure of Clover Studio a few months afte ...

'' *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 Ayanami is a fictional character from the ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' franchise created by Gainax. In the anime series of the same name, Rei is an introverted girl chosen as the enigmatic pilot of a giant mecha named Evangelion Unit 00. At the begi ...

, a character in the media franchise ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' *, a character in the manga/anime ''

Kakegurui is a Japanese manga series written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Tōru Naomura. It began serialization in Square Enix's ''Gangan Joker'' in March 2014, with its chapters additionally collected into eighteen volumes as of July 202 ...

'' *Rei Furuya, a character in the manga series ''

Detective Conan ''Case Closed'', also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' since January 1994; its chapters are collected in 107 ...

'' * 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 is a Japanese anime television series created and produced by Trigger. The series follows vagrant schoolgirl Ryuko Matoi on her search for her father's killer, which brings her into violent conflict with Satsuki Kiryuin, the iron-willed st ...

'' *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 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chica Umino. It has been serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine '' Young Animal'' since July 2007, with its chapters collected in 17 volumes as of August 2023. It follows the li ...

'' *Rei Kizaki, a character in the anime series ''

Aikatsu Stars! is an arcade collectible card game in Bandai's Data Carddass line of machines, which was launched in May 2016. It is the successor to the '' Aikatsu!'' series of arcade games. The game revolves around using collectible cards featuring vario ...

'' *Rei Kohmyoji, a character in the OVA series '' Kikaider 01: The Animation'' *Rei Kon, a character in the anime series ''

Beyblade Beyblade (Japanese: ベイブレード ''Beiburēdo'') is a battling spinning top toyline and multimedia franchise developed by Takara Tomy. Beyblades were inspired by the old "beigoma" spinning tops in olden Asia. The first modern Beyblade was ...

'' *Rei Kuroki, a character in the anime series ''

Vividred Operation is a Japanese anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures and directed by Kazuhiro Takamura. The series aired in Japan between January and March 2013 and is licensed in North America by Aniplex of America. Two manga adaptations have b ...

'' * Rei Kurosawa, a character in the video game series ''Fatal Frame'' *Rei Miyamoto, a character in the manga series ''

Highschool of the Dead ''Highschool of the Dead'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written by Daisuke Satō and illustrated by Shōji Satō. It was serialized in Fujimi Shobo's '' Monthly Dragon Age'' between the September 2006 and May 2013 issues, ...

'' *Rei Ogami, a character in the anime and manga series '' Code:Breaker'' *Rei Ryghts, a character in the video game ''

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory is an action role-playing game developed and published by Idea Factory with the assistance of Compile Heart. It is the third installment in the ''Hyperdimension Neptunia'' franchise. Set in the year 1989, the story takes place after '' Hyperdim ...

'' *Rei Ryugazaki, a character in the anime series ''

Free! ''Free!'' is a Japanese anime television series produced by Kyoto Animation and Animation Do. The series is loosely based on the light novel, , written by Kōji Ōji, which received an honorable mention in the second Kyoto Animation Award ...

'' *Rei Sagara, a character in the anime and manga series ''

Love Stage!! is a Japanese ''yaoi'' manga series written by Eiki Eiki and illustrated by Taishi Zaō. It began serialization in the July 2010 issue of Kadokawa Shoten's ''Asuka Ciel'' magazine. The manga is licensed in North America by SuBLime. A spin ...

'' *Rei Sakuma, a character from the

rhythm game Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to pres ...

Ensemble Stars! is a Japanese game franchise developed by Cacalia Studio and published by Happy Elements K.K., the Japanese division of the Chinese company Happy Elements. It is a spin-off of the 2012 game '' Ensemble Girls!'' It was first released as a li ...

'' * Rei Saotome (早乙女レイ), a character in the anime series ''Yu-Gi-Oh! GX'' *Rei Shimizu (志水礼), a character in the video game series ''

Danganronpa is a Japanese video game franchise created by Kazutaka Kodaka and developed and owned by Spike Chunsoft (formerly Spike). The series primarily surrounds various groups of apparent high-school students who are forced into murdering each oth ...

'' * Rei Shimura a fictional amateur sleuth and antiques expert *Rei Suwa (諏訪零), a character in the anime '' Buddy Daddies'' *Rei Suzumura, a character in the ''tokusatsu'' series ''

Garo Garo may refer to: People and languages * Garo people, a tribal people in India ** Garo language, the language spoken by the Garo tribe Places * Kingdom of Garo, a former kingdom in southern Ethiopia * Garo, Colorado * Garo Hills, part of the ...

'' *Rei Suzuya, a character in the manga series ''

Tokyo Ghoul is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Sui Ishida. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Young Jump'' from September 2011 to September 2014, with its chapters collected in 14 vo ...

'' * Rei Tachibana, a character in the ''tokusatsu'' series ''Kagaku Sentai Dynaman'' *Rei Takashima, a character in the manga series ''

Deadman Wonderland is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou. It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's '' Monthly Shōnen Ace'' from April 2007 to July 2013, with its chapters collected in 13 volumes. Tokyopop acquir ...

'' *, a character in the manga series ''

My Hero Academia is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from July 2014 to August 2024, with its chapters collected in 42 volumes. Set in a wor ...

'' *

Rei Toei Rei Toei is a fictional character in the Bridge trilogy of speculative fiction novels by William Gibson. Rei is introduced as the title character in Gibson's 1995 novel ''Idoru'', as an artificial intelligence, an embodied agent simulating a human ...

, a character in William Gibson's Bridge trilogy *Rei Wakana, a character in the media franchise ''

BanG Dream! ''BanG Dream!'', also known as , is a Japanese music media franchise owned by Bushiroad. Created by Bushiroad president Takaaki Kidani in January 2015 with original story by Kō Nakamura, the project began as a manga before ex ...

'' *Rei Yozora, one of the main characters of the anime ''

Shin Hakkenden is a Japanese anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. How ...

'' *Rei, a character from the game '' Nu: Carnival''

References

{{given name Japanese unisex given names Hebrew-language given names