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Rhys as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Rhys

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The baby name Rhys is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /riːs/ (REES).

Rhys is Welsh in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: /riːs/ (REES)

What is the meaning of the name Rhys ?

The baby name Rhys is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /riːs/ (REES).

Rhys is Welsh in Origin.

Rhys is a classic Welsh given name pronounced REES, deriving from Old Welsh Ris (also found as Rys) and conveying the sense of enthusiasm, ardor, and passion. The initial rh reflects a voiceless Welsh r, though in English it is simply heard as ree-ss. Long rooted in Welsh culture, the name endured in Wales and revived across the English-speaking world in the late twentieth century.

Notable medieval bearers include Rhys ap Tewdwr, an eleventh-century king of Deheubarth, and Rhys ap Gruffydd, "the Lord Rhys," a twelfth-century ruler and patron of the arts. Anglicized and surname forms produced Rees, Reece, Reese, and the surname Rice. Modern variants include Rees (traditional), Reece (English spelling), and Reese, now widely unisex in North America, while Rhys remains chiefly masculine in Wales and the UK. Occasional nicknames are Ry or Ree; nonstandard spellings like Rhyse appear but are uncommon.

Rhys has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Rhys

Rhys Ifans Actor|musician · Born 1967 · United Kingdom Rhys Ifans is a Welsh actor best known for roles in Notting Hill, The Boat That Rocked, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Born Rhys Owain Evans on 22 July 1967, he has also appeared in films like Twin Town and Kevin & Perry Go Large. Rhys Wakefield Actor · Born 1988 · Australia Rhys Wakefield is an Australian actor best known for his role in the film 'The Purge'. He also starred in 'Sanctum' and appeared in the TV series 'True Detective'. Rhys ap Gruffydd Royal · Born 1132 Rhys ap Gruffydd, also known as 'The Lord Rhys', was a prominent Welsh ruler in the 12th century. He is most famous for uniting much of southern Wales and establishing a strong Welsh kingdom during a time of Norman encroachment. His leadership and diplomatic skills were crucial in maintaining Welsh independence and culture during his reign.
Rhys Darby Actor · Born 1974 · New Zealand Rhys Darby is a New Zealand actor and comedian, best known for his energetic physical comedy and storytelling style. He’s especially known for roles in Flight of the Conchords, Our Flag Means Death, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Rhys Coiro Actor · Born 1979 · United States Rhys Coiro is an American actor best known for his role as Billy Walsh on the television series Entourage. He has also appeared in films like Straw Dogs and TV shows such as 24. His dynamic performances have made him a recognizable face in both film and television. Rhys ap Tewdwr Royal · Wales Rhys ap Tewdwr was a king of Deheubarth in Wales during the late 11th century. He is most famous for his efforts to maintain Welsh independence against Norman encroachment. His reign ended with his death in battle in 1093, marking a significant turning point in Welsh history.

Rhys – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
FJ 0 #6 1 374
MT 0 #43 1 1,767
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MU 0 #137 1 3,613
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
MT Boys 0 #176 4 4,064
Sweden Boys 2020 #176 2 1,548
AE 0 #184 4 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
Canada Boys 2024 #195 114 2,588
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
Canada Girls 2024 #277 9 2,795
SG 0 #277 6 11,010
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
JP Boys 0 #301 3 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
United States Boys 2024 #323 946 7,044
CN Boys 0 #329 3 9,639
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
MY 0 #351 4 12,352
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
France Boys 2021 #383 5 2,865
PH Boys 0 #401 8 11,440
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
ZA 0 #433 15 14,421
CR Boys 0 #509 2 10,188
HK Boys 0 #513 15 12,905
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
CM Boys 0 #574 2 12,054
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
SG Girls 0 #630 3 18,916
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
SG Boys 0 #659 39 17,960
Finland Boys 2026 #675 8 3,552
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
QA Boys 0 #740 4 18,093
BR Boys 0 #784 2 12,213
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
United States Girls 2024 #874 43 8,487
OM Boys 0 #915 4 17,948
PE Boys 0 #922 5 14,506
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
NL Boys 0 #929 23 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #942 11 5,697
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
ZA Boys 0 #1,062 117 25,619
MY Girls 0 #1,070 3 24,821
AE Boys 0 #1,079 14 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,094 18 25,439
IT Boys 0 #1,454 18 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,685 7 28,008

Rhys is popular in 42 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland
Canada
United States
England & Wales, United Kingdom

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People also ask about Rhys

Rhys is predominantly a boy's name.
Rhys is a one syllable name, pronounced /riːs/ (REES).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Rees, Reece, Reese and Rhyse.
Across languages, Rhys has these equivalents: Reese (anglicized form), Price (surname derived from ap Rhys).
Yes, very popular — Rhys ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 8 countries.
Rhys ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Rhys's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 6 notable people named Rhys are in our database, including Rhys Ifans (Actor|musician), Rhys Wakefield (Actor), Rhys ap Gruffydd (Royal).