Boy Old Testament Rare
Rei
my shepherd; my companion; my friend
רֵעִי re.i
Rei (Hebrew: רֵעִי, re.i) means “my shepherd; my companion; my friend”, by traditional interpretation. It appears once, at 1 Kings 1:8. In 2025 it was given to 59 children in the United States. Use is rising. Around 1,028 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Abishag.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Rei
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 1 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Hapax
- Yes occurs exactly once
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 59 | Rising |
| All-time total | 1,028 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 67 in 2019 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Kings 1:8 |
| Cross-references | 26 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Shimei co-occurrence Appears with Shimei in 1 Kings 1.
- Shammah co-occurrence Appears with Shammah in 1 Kings 1.
- Jehoiada co-occurrence Appears with Jehoiada in 1 Kings 1.
- Adonijah co-occurrence Appears with Adonijah in 1 Kings 1.
- Benaiah co-occurrence Appears with Benaiah in 1 Kings 1.
- Nathan co-occurrence Appears with Nathan in 1 Kings 1.
- Zadok co-occurrence Appears with Zadok in 1 Kings 1.
- Abishag co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Abishag.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ki.1.8
§ Rei = "friendly"
a person of David's court who remained loyal during Adonijah's rebellion
Rei was one of the people who remained loyal to King Solomon during Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne.
The biblical story
Rei is mentioned briefly in the book of 1 Kings as one of the people who did not join Adonijah in his attempt to become king (1Ki.1.8). Adonijah was one of King David's sons who tried to seize the throne near the end of David's life, even though David had promised the succession to his son Solomon (1Ki.1.5-10). Rei, along with Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and others, remained loyal to Solomon (1Ki.1.8). They did not attend the feast where Adonijah declared himself king (1Ki.1.9-10). When David was informed of Adonijah's actions, he ordered Solomon to be anointed as king, with the support of those who had remained loyal (1Ki.1.32-40). Rei's loyalty to Solomon during this critical time helped ensure a smooth transition of power and the fulfillment of David's choice of successor.
Key verses
Rei appears in 1 verse. Here are some of the most notable:
-
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.
1 Kings 1:8
Show all 1 reference
1 Kings (1)
- 1 Kings 1:8