Rhys
2025 SSA
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.
Rhys for boys#412 US
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.
Rhys for girls#3892 US
Less than ten percent of the babies named Rhys are girls, whereas Reese is given five times more often to girls than to boys, thanks to Ms. Witherspoon. It's a sleek and attractive name, but one that benefits from two accepted spellings that help clarify its gender identity.
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 · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #485 | 580 | #4,748 | 30 |
| 2015 | #514 | 560 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #494 | 612 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #477 | 618 | #4,670 | 30 |
| 2018 | #463 | 627 | #4,538 | 31 |
| 2019 | #440 | 692 | #3,986 | 37 |
| 2020 | #419 | 713 | #3,827 | 38 |
| 2021 | #413 | 750 | #3,028 | 55 |
| 2022 | #426 | 733 | #2,780 | 62 |
| 2023 | #353 | 930 | #2,813 | 61 |
| 2024 | #354 | 946 | #3,622 | 43 |
| 2025 | #412 | 778 | #3,892 | 38 |
World rankings
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Rhys on lists
Famous Rhyss
- Rhys ap GruffyddBoy
King of Deheubarth, Wales
- Rhys Ifans (born Rhys Owain Evans)Boy
Welsh actor
- Rhys HoskinsBoy
American baseball player
- Rhys Montague DarbyBoy
New Zealand comedian
- Rhys ChathamBoy
American composer
- Rhys CoiroBoy
American actor
- Rhys ThomasBoy
British film director and actor
- Rhys UhlichBoy
Australian model and actor
- Rhys LewisBoy
British soul singer
- Jonathan Rhys MeyersBoy
Irish Actor and Model
- Rhys Edward McIntyre (born 2009)Boy
son of musician Joey McIntyre
- John RhysBoy
Davies, Welsh actor and producer
- Matthew RhysBoy
Welsh actor
- Samaire Rhys ArmstrongGirl
actress
- Rhys Bowen (born Janet QuinGirl
Harkin), English author
Rhys in pop culture
- RhysBoy
character in the book "The Two Princesses of Bamarre" by Gail Carson Levine
- RhysBoy
a character on the television show "Elementary"
- Rhys WilliamsBoy
a character on the television show "Torchwood"
- RhysBoy
a character in the TellTale video game "Tales from the Borderlands"
- Rhys WilliamsBoy
a character in the book "In Office Hours," By Lucy Keller
- RhysBoy
a character in the "Trylle" trilogy of books
- Rhysand "RhysBoy
" character in the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" book series by Sarah J. Maas
- RhysBoy
a character in the Dragon Age game and book series
- Rhys LindstromBoy
one of the main characters of The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff