Reece is an English spelling of the Welsh Rhys, a name that means "enthusiasm" or "ardor" and was borne by several medieval Welsh princes. The anglicized forms Reece and Reese spread as surnames before returning as first names. In the United States Reece has stayed in the top 1000 all century, ranking number 387 in 2000 and number 344 in 2001; after a long stretch in the 500s it has recovered to number 460 in 2025.