| Dylan | Rhys | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sea, son of the wave | Ardor, enthusiasm |
| Origin | welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | DIL-an | REES |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1953 | 1929 |
| Peak year | 2001 (16,497) | 2024 (952) |
| In 2025 | 6,208 | 778 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Dylan | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 41,138 | 4,857 |
| 2010s | 96,354 | 5,915 |
| 2000s | 140,125 | 2,215 |
| 1990s | 122,074 | 696 |
| 1980s | 14,171 | 314 |
| 1970s | 4,036 | 86 |
| 1960s | 684 | 111 |
| 1950s | 97 | 105 |
| 1940s | 0 | 27 |
| 1920s | 0 | 8 |
From Welsh, traditionally interpreted as containing an element meaning 'sea' or 'tide'; in medieval Welsh myth Dylan ail Don is a sea figure who takes to the waves at birth. The exact derivation of the first element is debated, but the sea association is ancient.
Rhys means “ardour” or “enthusiasm” in Welsh.
Dylan is more popular than Rhys today: about 6,208 US babies were given the name Dylan in 2025, compared with 778 named Rhys.
Dylan means Sea, son of the wave (welsh origin), while Rhys means Ardor, enthusiasm (Welsh origin).
In US records, Dylan first appears in 1953 and Rhys in 1929, so Rhys has the longer recorded history.