Reyes

Reyes is the Spanish plural of rey, meaning king. It is established as a surname and also as a given name, with a particularly important feminine naming tradition connected with María de los Reyes. That devotional name refers to a title of the Virgin Mary, rather than simply giving a child a royal title.

Seville provides a concrete setting for this history: its cathedral houses the image of the Virgen de los Reyes, associated with the city’s religious tradition and its royal past. Families may choose Reyes through that devotion, through an inherited surname, or through an existing personal name. These different routes explain why it appears in naming traditions for both boys and girls. The Spanish word remains the same, while the family connection supplies the individual story.