Meaning & Origin
A surname from Spanish.
Rey is a boy's and girl's baby name of Spanish origin, meaning "king" — the Spanish equivalent of Rex or Roy, carrying the same regal simplicity in a single syllable.
Rey leapt into the cultural spotlight as the name of the central hero of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), played by Daisy Ridley. While Rey was used as a girl's name in the film, the Spanish word-name has been used for boys for generations, and the film's impact increased usage across both genders in the United States.