Alex vs Rhys
Alex and Rhyscompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #37 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2003, Alex was ranked #38 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2009, Alex was ranked #63 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Rhys over time
Alex and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rhys in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rhys reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Alex in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Alex moved into the top 50 at #35 in 2011 as Rhys fell out of it to #66, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Alex moved ahead of Rhys in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #75 and #73 the year before became #71 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alex and Rhys averaged 48.8 places apart, ending at #171 and #355.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Rhys were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #37 and #179.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Alex #54 in 1992, Rhys #49 in 1991.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Rhys in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Rhys #65 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Rhys #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rhys in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Rhys #49 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Rhys #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rhys in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Rhys #25 in 2008.
The order changed in 2011: Alex moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #45 and #39; by 2011 that had become #35 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Rhys #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1987–2009
Alex held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rhys in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alex #54 in 1992, Rhys #49 in 1991.
The order changed in 2000: Alex moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #75 and #73; by 2000 that had become #71 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Alex #63, Rhys #99.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1987–2003
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rhys in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #38 in 2003, Rhys #74 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Alex #38, Rhys #96.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alex | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'. | Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'. |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | /riːs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex is recorded with a Greek, short form origin, while Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rhys.
- Alex's recorded meaning differs from Rhys's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alex
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #346 among boys in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Rhys
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys