Henry vs Rhys
Henry 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, Henry was ranked #14 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Henry was ranked #45 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2009, Henry was ranked #50 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2003, Henry was ranked #74 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Henry was ranked #76 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Henry was ranked #95 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.
Henry and Rhys over time
Henry and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Henry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rhys in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Henry in none. 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 2004, Henry moved ahead of Rhys in England and Wales · Boys — #53 and #52 the year before became #48 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Henry and Rhys changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #14 and #355.
- Longest-running competitions
Henry and Rhys were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #76 and #179.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #54 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #355.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025
Henry held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rhys in 17.
Highest recorded here: Henry #75 in 2016, Rhys #65 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Henry #76, Rhys #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Henry held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rhys in 6.
Highest recorded here: Henry #10 in 2021, Rhys #49 in 2006.
The order changed in 2004: Henry moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #53 and #52; by 2004 that had become #48 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Henry #14, Rhys #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Henry held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rhys in 16.
Highest recorded here: Henry #22 in 2023, Rhys #25 in 2008.
The order changed in 2013: Henry moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #94 and #78; by 2013 that had become #62 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Henry #45, Rhys #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 1993–2009
Henry held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rhys in 8.
Highest recorded here: Henry #50 in 2009, Rhys #65 in 1993.
The order changed in 2002: Henry moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #77 and #76; by 2002 that had become #80 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Henry #50, Rhys #99.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1987–2003
Henry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Rhys in 4.
Highest recorded here: Henry #55 in 1996, Rhys #74 in 1992.
The order changed in 1993: Henry moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #82 and #74; by 1993 that had become #78 and #85.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Henry #74, 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 | Henry | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Home ruler, estate ruler. | Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'. |
| Origin | Germanic, via Old French Henri | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛnɹi/ | /riːs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Harry, Hal, Heinrich, Henri | 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 #6 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Henry is recorded with a Germanic, via Old French Henri origin, while Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin.
- Henry has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rhys.
- Henry'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.
- The available evidence gives Henry a "high" Data Confidence level and Rhys a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Henry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #102 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 1993–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 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