Rhys

Rhys - A very unique male name

Rhys appeared on the charts for the first time in 1979 on position #2330. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rhys and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rhys? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Rhys. The baby boy name Rhys was given to 732 baby boys in 2025, ranking #421 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 2,003 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rhys peaked in popularity 2 years ago in 2024 on position 350.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rhys, 1-5?

Rhys is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rhys is currently topping the baby name charts in Delaware at position #137 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #700.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Rhys is where you live.

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Rhys origin and meaning

Welsh

From Welsh rhys, 'ardour, enthusiasm, rashness'

Rhys was a name of Welsh princes and has been used in Wales for centuries. In the U.S. it took off in the 2010s with the taste for short Welsh names and reached near its peak in 2024, helped by the visibility of actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers and writer Rhys Bowen under this spelling.

Attested etymology

Rhys is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Rhys, pop culture references for the name Rhys and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Rhys

We've found the following names that sound similar to Rhys, sorted by popularity.

Ricky / Rick / Ross / Rickey / Rex / Rocco / Royce / Rocky / Reece / Reese /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Rhys

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Rhys a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Rhys?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

REES · /ris/

Around the world

• Rhys (Welsh) — Original Welsh form
• Rees (Welsh) — Anglicised Welsh spelling

Spellings and nicknames

• Rees — Anglicised spelling
• Reese — Anglicised spelling, also used for girls

Famous bearers

• Rhys ap Gruffydd — 12th-century Welsh prince, ruler of Deheubarth (1132–1197) Historical

Style

InternationalClassicShort form

Why parents choose it

Short, strong, and genuinely historic, with a clean modern profile.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation is not obvious from the spelling — expect 'Riss' and 'Rise' guesses, and confusion with Reese/Rees spellings.