Namewise

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 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Rhys #389 among boys in England and Wales.

Alex and Rhys over time

Alex and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 124 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 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Alex and Rhys averaged 53.3 places apart, ending at #207 and #389.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Alex and Rhys were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #207 and #389.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alex held the stronger position in 28 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, 2025: Alex #207, Rhys #389.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Alex

Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rhys

Pairs where Rhys shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Rhys
FieldAlexRhys
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA 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'.
OriginGreek, short formWelsh, from Old Welsh Ris
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks//riːs/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rhys

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #389 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys