Namewise

Dylan vs Rhys

Dylan 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.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2003, Dylan was ranked #21 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2009, Dylan was ranked #32 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Dylan was ranked #72 and Rhys #389 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Dylan and Rhys over time

Dylan and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rhys in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 moved ahead of the other

    In 1997, Dylan moved ahead of Rhys in England and Wales · Boys — #57 and #54 the year before became #52 and #55.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Dylan and Rhys changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1984 and 2009, ending at #32 and #99.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Rhys averaged 39.5 places apart, ending at #32 and #99.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Dylan and Rhys were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #72 and #389.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #7 in 1992, Rhys #74 in 1992.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #57 and #54 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #72 and #389.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025

    Dylan held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Rhys in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Rhys #65 in 2010.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Rhys #179.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rhys in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Rhys #49 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1997: Dylan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #57 and #54; by 1997 that had become #52 and #55.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #72, Rhys #389.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Dylan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Rhys in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Rhys #25 in 2008.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Rhys #305.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1984–2009

    Dylan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rhys in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Rhys #49 in 1991.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2009: Dylan #32, Rhys #99.

  • New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1987–2003

    Dylan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rhys in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Rhys #74 in 1992.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Dylan #21, 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 Dylan

Pairs where Dylan 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

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

England and Wales 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 Dylan, Rhys
FieldDylanRhys
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact.Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'.
OriginWelshWelsh, from Old Welsh Ris
Pronunciation/ˈdɪlən//riːs/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Dylan is recorded with a Welsh origin, while Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin.
  • Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rhys.
  • Dylan'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

Dylan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1969

    First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1980–2020

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2006 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