Jacob vs Rhys
Jacob 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, Jacob was ranked #6 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #13 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2009, Jacob was ranked #20 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #27 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #30 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #62 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jacob and Rhys over time
Jacob and Rhys appear together in 5 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Jacob held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rhys in 0.
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 5 of those lists, and Jacob 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 1987, Jacob moved ahead of Rhys in New Zealand · Boys — #99 and #92 the year before became #46 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacob and Rhys changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #13 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jacob and Rhys averaged 46.7 places apart, ending at #20 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacob and Rhys were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 35 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #62 and #179.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #84 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #13 and #305.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1991–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rhys in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #37 in 2016, Rhys #65 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #62, Rhys #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jacob held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rhys in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #4 in 2013, Rhys #49 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jacob #30, Rhys #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jacob held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Rhys in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #5 in 2017, Rhys #25 in 2008.
The order changed in 2010: Jacob moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #51 and #33; by 2010 that had become #24 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jacob #13, Rhys #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1984–2009
Jacob held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rhys in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #10 in 1999, Rhys #49 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Jacob #20, Rhys #99.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1977–2003
Jacob held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rhys in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #6 in 2003, Rhys #74 in 1992.
The order changed in 1987: Jacob moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #99 and #92; by 1987 that had become #46 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jacob #6, 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 | Jacob | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'holder of the heel' or 'supplanter', referencing the biblical account of Jacob being born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel. A less common alternate theory holds it may derive from a longer form meaning roughly 'may God protect'. | Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪkəb/ | /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 #42 (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
- Jacob is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin origin, while Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin.
- Jacob has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rhys.
- Jacob'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
Jacob
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #273 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #42 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