Namewise

George vs Rhys

George 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 2025, George was ranked #7 and Rhys #389 among boys in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2003, George was ranked #34 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, George was ranked #40 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, George was ranked #48 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2009, George was ranked #74 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, George was ranked #112 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

George and Rhys over time

George and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. George held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rhys in 1.

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 4 of those lists, George in 1. 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 1978, George moved ahead of Rhys in New Zealand · Boys — #94 and #92 the year before became #61 and #99.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    George and Rhys changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1984 and 2009, ending at #74 and #99.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, George and Rhys averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #74 and #99.

  • Longest-running competitions

    George and Rhys were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #7 and #389.

List by list

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

    George held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rhys in 14.

    Highest recorded here: George #65 in 2019, Rhys #65 in 2010.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: George #112, Rhys #179.

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

    George held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rhys in 0.

    Highest recorded here: George #2 in 2018, Rhys #49 in 2006.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: George #7, Rhys #389.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    George held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rhys in 16.

    Highest recorded here: George #25 in 2023, Rhys #25 in 2008.

    The order changed in 2013: George moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #101 and #78; by 2013 that had become #68 and #83.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: George #40, Rhys #305.

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

    George held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rhys in 10.

    Highest recorded here: George #61 in 1984, Rhys #49 in 1991.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2009: George #74, Rhys #99.

  • New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1975–2003

    George held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rhys in 3.

    Highest recorded here: George #34 in 2003, Rhys #74 in 1992.

    The order changed in 1978: George moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #94 and #92; by 1978 that had become #61 and #99.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: George #34, 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 George

Pairs where George 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 — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

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

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of George, Rhys
FieldGeorgeRhys
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFarmer, earth-worker.Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'.
OriginGreekWelsh, from Old Welsh Ris
Pronunciation/ˈdʒɔːdʒ//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 observationEngland and Wales · Boys #7 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

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

George

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

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