Overview
Rei is both a Japanese given name and a Hebrew given name. In Hebrew, the name Rei (רעי Re`eeY) originates in biblical texts which mean "my shepherd; my companion; my friend". In Japanese it could have different meanings depending on the used kanji. The word 'Rei' can be used for (or by) either gender. In the Hebrew Bible REI is an Israelite loyal to David at the time of the usurpation of Adonijah, who remained firm to David's cause when Adonijah rebelled.
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
れい, Rei written in hiragana
People with the name
Rei Dan (檀れい, born 1971), actress
Ray Fujita (藤田玲, born 1988), actor
Rei Gesing (born 1973), german author
Rei Hiroe (広江 礼威, born 1972), manga artist
Rei Igarashi (大濱 貴子, born 1963), actress and voice actress
Rei Kawakubo (川久保 玲, born 1942), fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons
Rei Kikukawa (菊川 怜, born 1978), actress, model and television presenter
Rei Mikamoto (三家本 礼, born 1974), horror manga artist
Rei Nakano (中野澪, born 1999), actor
Rei Okamoto (岡本玲, born 1991), model and actress
Rei Omishi (臣士れい, born 19--), screenwriter and manga author/artist
Rei Otori (大鳥れい, born 1973), actress
Rei Sakuma (佐久間 レイ, born 1965), voice actor
, Japanese badminton player
, Japanese motorcycle racer
, Japanese baseball player
Rei Takedomi, Japanese shogi player
Rei Yoshii (吉井怜, born 1992), actress
Rei Naoi (直井怜, born 2004), singer, rapper
Other people
Rei Berroa (born 1949), Dominican-American poet, university professor, literary and cultural critic, and translator
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).