What Does the Name Rhys Mean?
Rhys is a boy's name of Welsh origin meaning “ardour, enthusiasm.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Rhys |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Welsh |
| Meaning | ardour, enthusiasm |
| Variants | Reece, Reese, Rees, Rhett |
| Popularity | A national favorite in Wales and widely used across the UK; it appears in the US top 1,000, often via the spelling Reece or Reese. |
The meaning and origin of Rhys
The name Rhys means “ardour, enthusiasm” and has Welsh origins. Rhys is a Welsh name from the Old Welsh Ris, probably meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm,' borne by several medieval Welsh kings such as Rhys ap Gruffydd. Anglicized forms include Reece and Reese.
Variants and related names
Rhys is related to several other names you may recognize: Reece, Reese, Rees, Rhett. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Rhys?
A national favorite in Wales and widely used across the UK; it appears in the US top 1,000, often via the spelling Reece or Reese.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rhys mean?+
The name Rhys means “ardour, enthusiasm” and is of Welsh origin.
What is the origin of the name Rhys?+
Rhys originates from Welsh.
Is Rhys a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Rhys has trended in the US over time.
Rhys by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press