What does Evan mean?
An anglicisation of the Welsh Iefan/Ifan, a form of John, ultimately from Hebrew 'Yochanan' meaning 'God is gracious.' A John-root grace name.
What does Rhys mean?
Rhys means “ardour” or “enthusiasm” in Welsh.
Evan vs Rhys
Which is more popular?
Evan is more popular than Rhys today: about 2,412 US babies were given the name Evan in 2025, compared with 778 named Rhys.
| Evan | Rhys | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Ardor, enthusiasm |
| Origin | welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EV-uhn | REES |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1929 |
| Peak year | 2007 (10,295) | 2024 (952) |
| In 2025 | 2,412 | 778 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Evan
Rhys
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Evan | Rhys |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,014 | 4,857 |
| 2010s | 64,762 | 5,915 |
| 2000s | 92,144 | 2,215 |
| 1990s | 59,396 | 696 |
| 1980s | 32,484 | 314 |
| 1970s | 7,870 | 86 |
| 1960s | 5,084 | 111 |
| 1950s | 2,989 | 105 |
| 1940s | 1,545 | 27 |
| 1930s | 1,175 | 0 |
| 1920s | 1,511 | 8 |
| 1910s | 1,130 | 0 |
| 1900s | 218 | 0 |
| 1890s | 187 | 0 |
| 1880s | 192 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Evan or Rhys more popular?
Evan is more popular than Rhys today: about 2,412 US babies were given the name Evan in 2025, compared with 778 named Rhys.
What is the difference between Evan and Rhys?
Evan means God is gracious (welsh origin), while Rhys means Ardor, enthusiasm (Welsh origin).
Which name is older, Evan or Rhys?
In US records, Evan first appears in 1880 and Rhys in 1929, so Evan has the longer recorded history.