Rhys
Meaningardor, enthusiasm · Welsh
- US rank
- #410
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #352 in 2024
778 babies were named Rhys in the US in 2025. It has climbed 8 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1994–2025
US births per million boys, 1929–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Rhys you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Rhys
Rhys Ifans
Welsh actor
Choose Rhys and your child shares a first name with Rhys Ifans, a Welsh actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Rhys, like who?” Rhys Ifans's Wikipedia article is available in 50 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Rhys Ifans on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Rhys_Ifans_2011.jpg: Rae Hanson derivative work: RanZag (talk), CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,195 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Rhys, 778 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Rhys would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRhys first shows up in US birth records in 1929, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 96 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2024, when it reached #352.
- Then vs nowRhys is 6.7× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 14,663 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,195.
- Where it's lovedRhys is most popular in Delaware, where it ranks #126, followed by Pennsylvania (#138) and Rhode Island (#155). It's in the top 1,000 in 34 states.
- MeaningIn Welsh, Rhys means “ardor, enthusiasm”.
About the name Rhys
Rhys is a boy name of Welsh origin meaning “ardor, enthusiasm”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with R and ending in “-hys”. US birth records list Rhys for boys from 1929 to 2025, in 80 of those 97 years. Its best year was 2024, when it ranked #352 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #410, with 778 babies.
Origin:Welsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.2 | 240,000 girls |
| 2000s | 12 | 81,433 girls |
| 2010s | 18 | 55,006 girls |
| 2020s | 30 | 32,805 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 7.4 | 135,135 boys |
| 1940s | 1.7 | 591,716 boys |
| 1950s | 5.2 | 193,050 boys |
| 1960s | 5.7 | 175,131 boys |
| 1970s | 5.2 | 192,678 boys |
| 1980s | 17 | 58,997 boys |
| 1990s | 36 | 27,824 boys |
| 2000s | 111 | 9,046 boys |
| 2010s | 315 | 3,173 boys |
| 2020s | 469 | 2,132 boys |
More Welsh boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Dylan · great tide
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Evan · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Maddox · son of Madoc
Questions about the name Rhys
What does the name Rhys mean?
Rhys means “ardor, enthusiasm” in Welsh.
What is the origin of the name Rhys?
Rhys has Welsh roots in our records. Other Welsh names include Owen, Dylan, Rowan.
Is Rhys a boy or girl name?
Rhys is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Rhys?
Rhys ranked #410 for US boys in 2025, given to 778 babies. Its best year was 2024 (#352).