Max vs Rhys
Max 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2009, Max was ranked #17 and Rhys #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2003, Max was ranked #22 and Rhys #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #29 and Rhys #218 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #30 and Rhys #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Max was ranked #41 and Rhys #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Max was ranked #44 and Rhys #355 among boys in England and Wales.
Max and Rhys over time
Max and Rhys appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Max held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rhys in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Max 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Max moved into the top 50 at #26 in 2011 as Rhys fell out of it to #66, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Max moved ahead of Rhys in England and Wales · Boys — #57 and #55 the year before became #51 and #55.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Max and Rhys changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1988 and 2025, ending at #41 and #179.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Max and Rhys averaged 55.1 places apart, ending at #41 and #179.
- Longest-running competitions
Max and Rhys were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #41 and #179.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #54 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #44 and #355.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025
Max held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rhys in 7.
Highest recorded here: Max #27 in 2022, Rhys #65 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Max #41, Rhys #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Max held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rhys in 2.
Highest recorded here: Max #18 in 2012, Rhys #49 in 2006.
The order changed in 1998: Max moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #57 and #55; by 1998 that had become #51 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Max #44, Rhys #355.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Max held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rhys in 14.
Highest recorded here: Max #22 in 2015, Rhys #25 in 2008.
The order changed in 2011: Max moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #45 and #39; by 2011 that had become #26 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Max #30, Rhys #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1992–2009
Max held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rhys in 5.
Highest recorded here: Max #17 in 2009, Rhys #57 in 1992.
The order changed in 1998: Max moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #69; by 1998 that had become #72 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Max #17, Rhys #99.
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 | Max | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). | Behind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'. |
| Origin | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmæks/ | /riːs/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 #30 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Max is recorded with a Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim origin, while Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin.
- Max and Rhys both have 1 syllable.
- Max'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
Max
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #359 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #30 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