How to say it
RHYS
/riːs/
Masculine
Rhys
Ardor, enthusiasm
What it means
Welsh, 'ardor,' 'fiery zeal,' or 'enthusiasm.'
Rhys is a Welsh name meaning 'ardor' or 'fiery enthusiasm,' borne by medieval Welsh princes like Rhys ap Gruffydd, who held off the Normans. The phonetic spellings Reece and Reese are the same name made plain. It reads sharp and proudly Welsh, a single syllable that lands as 'reese.' Actor Rhys Ifans keeps the traditional spelling in view.
Popularity over time
peaked at #353 in 2023, currently #412 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
Said REESE.
- Spelling
Rhys is the Welsh spelling; Reece and Reese are phonetic.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Rhys ap Gruffydd 12th-century prince of Deheubarth in Wales
- Rhys Ifans Welsh actor
Spelling variants
- Reece
- Rees
- Reese
Names with the same feeling
See Rhys from another angle
By style