Rhys
2025 SSA
About Rhys
Rugged but gentle, Rhys is the traditional Welsh spelling of this name, which can also be anglicized as Reese or Reece. Up until 2010, Reese was the preferred spelling in the US, perhaps because parents were concerned about mispronunciation. However, Rhys has since taken over for boys and is now used twice as often as Reese.
Always widespread in Wales, where it has deep historic roots and was borne by a number of early rulers, Rhys is also familiar across the rest of the UK, though less now so than it was in the 90s and 2000s. In the US, it didn't enter the Top 1000 until 2004, possibly influenced by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, of The Tudors, and Welsh-born actor Rhys Ifans.
Former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre named his son Rhys Edward in 2009, while comedian and actor Rhys Darby is another bearer.
Pronounced REES.
As of October 2026, Rhys ranked #412 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #353 in 2023, Nameberry popularity #4.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #485 | 580 | 301.9 |
| 2015 | #514 | 560 | 292.2 |
| 2016 | #494 | 612 | 322.5 |
| 2017 | #477 | 618 | 333.9 |
| 2018 | #463 | 627 | 345.2 |
| 2019 | #440 | 692 | 385.7 |
| 2020 | #419 | 713 | 413.1 |
| 2021 | #413 | 750 | 428.7 |
| 2022 | #426 | 733 | 419.8 |
| 2023 | #353 | 930 | 543.7 |
| 2024 | #354 | 946 | 549.1 |
| 2025 | #412 | 778 | 455.5 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Rhys.
- Callum
- Ronan
- Lachlan
- Everett
- Kieran
- Judah
- Emerson
- Flynn
- Declan
- Derin
- Arden
- Killian
- Alden
- Ellis
- Rory
- Griffin
- Ziah
- Finley
- Beckett
- Quinn
Rhys on lists
Famous Rhyss
- Rhys ap Gruffydd
King of Deheubarth, Wales
- Rhys Ifans (born Rhys Owain Evans)
Welsh actor
- Rhys Hoskins
American baseball player
- Rhys Montague Darby
New Zealand comedian
- Rhys Chatham
American composer
- Rhys Coiro
American actor
- Rhys Thomas
British film director and actor
- Rhys Uhlich
Australian model and actor
- Rhys Lewis
British soul singer
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Irish Actor and Model
- Rhys Edward McIntyre (born 2009)
son of musician Joey McIntyre
- John Rhys
Davies, Welsh actor and producer
- Matthew Rhys
Welsh actor
Rhys in pop culture
- Rhys
character in the book "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" by Gail Carson Levine
- Rhys
a character on the television show "Elementary"
- Rhys Williams
a character on the television show "Torchwood"
- Rhys
a character in the TellTale video game "Tales from the Borderlands"
- Rhys Williams
a character in the book "In Office Hours," By Lucy Keller
- Rhys
a character in the "Trylle" trilogy of books
- Rhysand "Rhys
" character in the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" book series by Sarah J. Maas
- Rhys
a character in the Dragon Age game and book series
- Rhys Lindstrom
one of the main characters of The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff