Kanji TattooDICTIONARY
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NAME STUDY · SOURCE-REVIEWED

Rei
レイ

Two timing units: re-i. The Japanese r is a light tap. English Ray may sound close to some listeners, but its vowel and timing can differ.

Rei shows why the same sound needs more than a quick positive gloss. 零 is recorded as a name spelling, but it is also a familiar character for zero. In other compounds it has senses connected with falling, small quantities or decline. The source also lists another spelling for the same name sound; that is a reminder to compare meanings before committing to an image.

Attested Japanese name spelling

零 · rei / れい

Recorded as a name in the cited survey. This is not an official translation of every foreign name with the same Roman spelling.

Literal character meaning

零 — Zero; falling or small amounts in other uses

Interpretation & limits
A fresh start might be your personal association with zero. The character itself does not literally mean a new beginning, and an attested name spelling does not remove its other dictionary senses.
Reading & unintended associations
零 can suggest the number zero outside a name context. This may be welcome or unwanted depending on your intention.

Tattoo perspective

The rain component makes a recognisable upper shape, with smaller strokes below. Compare the complete glyph with the final drawing rather than choosing on silhouette alone. Talk through the numerical association before settling on the design.

Evidence and editorial review

Source check: 2026-10-17. Codex editorial source check. Sources document usage and meanings; tattoo advice is our editorial interpretation. Surveys are samples, not a complete register of names. No gender restriction is implied.

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CHARACTER STUDY

Name reading: rei · Yu Kyokasho Bold · Japanese writing

YOUR LETTERING

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Yu Kyokasho Bold · Full design · Fit to window

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PLACEMENT STUDY

Body placement preview

Reference male upper arm photo with kanji placement

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Downloads use the same lettering, spacing and dimensions shown here. They contain upright lettering only, without the photo, placement rotation or scale ruler. PNG includes 300 dpi print dimensions; SVG contains editable filled paths traced from the lettering image, without embedded images or fonts. Detail is limited by the source image. Print at 100% / actual size and check with a ruler.

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Read the dictionary entry: Zero (rei) →

Your pronunciation comes first.

Would this reading work for your own name? Compare the pronunciation notes and evidence before deciding. A personal spelling still needs review of the complete final artwork.

Read the name guide →