Edward vs Rhys
Edward 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2009, Edward was ranked #77 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Edward was ranked #93 and Rhys #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.
Edward and Rhys over time
Edward and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Edward held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rhys in 2.
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.
Edward reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Rhys 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2017, Edward moved ahead of Rhys in Northern Ireland · Boys — #127 and #104 the year before became #132 and #171.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Rhys changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1975 and 1996, ending at #93 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Edward and Rhys averaged 13.8 places apart, ending at #77 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Rhys were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #125 and #179.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Edward #68 in 1992, Rhys #49 in 1991.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #45 and #54 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #31 and #355.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rhys in 9.
Highest recorded here: Edward #50 in 1988, Rhys #65 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Rhys #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rhys in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Rhys #49 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Rhys #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rhys in 20.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Rhys #25 in 2008.
The order changed in 2017: Edward moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #127 and #104; by 2017 that had become #132 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, Rhys #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1984–2009
Edward held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rhys in 16.
Highest recorded here: Edward #68 in 1992, Rhys #49 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Edward #77, Rhys #99.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1975–1996
Edward held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rhys in 2.
Highest recorded here: Edward #59 in 1987, Rhys #74 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Edward #93, Rhys #94.
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 | Edward | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rhys has a recorded origin (Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Edward has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rhys.
- A meaning is recorded for Rhys; Edward doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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