Reese is the English spelling of the Welsh name Rhys, which means "ardor" or "enthusiasm". Actress Reese Witherspoon turned the old boys' name into a popular choice for American girls from the late 1990s on. Reese has been in the US top 1000 for girls since 2000, when it ranked number 886; it peaked at number 128 in 2012, stayed in the top 200 through the 2010s and ranks number 192 in 2025.