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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
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 126 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 Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #69 and #179.
- 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 2024 they were #64 and #355.
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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 28 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, 2024: Dylan #64, Rhys #355.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Dylan | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally 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'. |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
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
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
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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