Rhys is a Welsh name meaning "ardor" or "enthusiasm", borne by several medieval Welsh princes including Rhys ap Gruffydd, ruler of Deheubarth. Its pronunciation, "Reece", produced the spellings Reece and Reese, which are also used for girls in the United States. Rhys itself entered the US top 1000 in 2004, reached number 353 in 2023 and holds number 412 in 2025.