Rei vs Zai

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Rei

Boy #3,800 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"courtesy, respect, gratitude"

Origin: Japanese kanji 礼

Cultural Roots

Japanese American Brazilian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#3,800
Total SSA Count
29
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Rei →

Zai

Boy #3,946 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"to be, to exist, present"

Origin: Chinese (在)

Cultural Roots

Chinese American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#3,946
Total SSA Count
28
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Zai →

Popularity Comparison

Rei Rank #3,800
Zai Rank #3,946

Rei is more popular, ranked #3800 vs #3946 for Zai.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Rei ___

  • Rei James
  • Rei Thomas
  • Rei Alexander
  • Rei Kenji
  • Rei Haruki
  • Rei Jun

Zai ___

  • Zai River
  • Zai Kai
  • Zai James
  • Zai Phoenix
  • Zai Orion

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Rei

Kai Sora Haru Ryu Suki

If you choose Zai

Kai Mia Sora Ren Nova

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rei or Zai more popular?

Rei is more popular, ranked #3800 compared to Zai at #3946 in the United States.

What do Rei and Zai mean?

Rei means "courtesy, respect, gratitude" (Japanese kanji 礼 origin). Zai means "to be, to exist, present" (Chinese (在) origin).

Are Rei and Zai boy or girl names?

Rei is primarily a boy name. Zai is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Rei ← Full profile: Zai Browse all baby names