Rhys or Rhŷs is a popular

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

given name (usually male) that is famous in Welsh history and is also used as a surname. It originates from

Deheubarth Deheubarth (; lit. "Right-hand Part", thus "the South") was a regional name for the realms of south Wales, particularly as opposed to Gwynedd (Latin: ''Venedotia''). It is now used as a shorthand for the various realms united under the House o ...

, an old region of South West Wales, with famous kings such as

Rhys ap Tewdwr Rhys ap Tewdwr (c. 1040 – 1093) was a king of Deheubarth in Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great. He was born in the area which is now Carmarthenshire and died at the battle of Brecon in April ...

. It is pronounced in

North Wales North Wales ( cy, Gogledd Cymru) is a region of Wales, encompassing its northernmost areas. It borders Mid Wales to the south, England to the east, and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The area is highly mountainous and rural, with Snowdonia N ...

, in

South Wales South Wales ( cy, De Cymru) is a loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, south Wales extends westwards ...

, and in English. Anglicised forms of the name include Reece,

Rees Rees may refer to: Places * Rees, Germany, a city on the lower Rhine * Rees, Illinois, United States, a community in the Jacksonville, Illinois micropolitan area * Rees River, a river in New Zealand * 4587 Rees, an Amor asteroid Other uses * Re ...

, Reese and

Rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly '' Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and ''Porteresia'', both wild and domestica ...

People with the given name

History

* Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132–1197), 12th-century ruler of southern Wales * Sir Rhys ap Gruffydd (died 1356), 14th-century Welsh nobleman * Rhys ap Gruffydd (rebel) (1508–1531), executed 16th-century Welsh landowner *

(died 1093), 11th-century prince of southern Wales *

Rhys ap Thomas Sir Rhys ap Thomas (1449–1525) was a Welsh soldier and landholder who rose to prominence during the Wars of the Roses, and was instrumental in the victory of Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth. He remained a faithful supporter of Henr ...

(1449–1525), a Welsh soldier and landholder who was instrumental in the victory of Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth Field *

Rhys Lewis (born 1532) Rhys Lewis (born by 1532), of Gladestry, Radnorshire, was a Welsh politician. He was the eldest son of Ieuan Lewis of Gladestry, MP for Radnorshire. He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England The Parliament of England was the leg ...

, MP for New Radnor Boroughs October 1553 and 1558 * Rhys Hooe (c. 1599 – after 1655), Virginia colonist from Wales

Modern times

Rhys Bobridge Rhys Bobridge, also known as Rhys, is an Australian pop singer, dancer and make-up artist based in Sydney. Early life Bobridge started gymnastics at seven years of age, which led him to attending classes at Johnny Young Talent School, alongside ...

(born 1981), Australian singer and dancer *

Rhys Chatham Rhys Chatham (born September 19, 1952) is an American composer, guitarist, trumpet player, multi-instrumentalist (flutes in C, alto and bass, keyboard), primarily active in avant-garde and minimalist music. He is best known for his "guitar or ...

(born 1952), American avant-garde "guitar orchestra" composer *

Rhys (singer) Rhys Clarstedt (born 27 October 1997), better known as simply Rhys, is a Swedish-American singer and songwriter. Her singles "Swallow Your Pride" and "Last Dance" became hits in Sweden. In 2018 she released her debut album ''Stages''. Early life ...

(Rhys Clarstedt, born 1997), Swedish-American singer * Rhys Coiro (born 1979), American film actor and singer *

Rhys Darby Rhys Montague Darby (born 21 March 1974) is a New Zealand actor and comedian, known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nominated fo ...

(born 1974), stand-up comedian from New Zealand * Rhys Davies (born 1985), Welsh golfer *

Rhys Day Rhys Day (born 31 August 1982) is a Welsh former professional footballer who last played as a central defender for Conference North side Hyde. He was capped several times for the Wales under-21 team and played for Blackpool, Mansfield Town, ...

(born 1982), Welsh footballer *

Rhys Evans Rhys Karl Evans (born 27 January 1982) is an English former professional footballer and goalkeeper coach. He played as a goalkeeper, who won two England under-21 caps. Born in Swindon, Wiltshire, he began his career with Chelsea, where he sta ...

(born 1982), English footballer *

Rhys Fulber Nowell Rhys Fulber is a Canadian electronic musician and producer. He is a member of Front Line Assembly and Delerium, along with Bill Leeb. He also records under his own name and under the name Conjure One. Biography Rhys Fulber was born ...

(born 1970), Canadian musician (

Front Line Assembly Front Line Assembly (FLA) is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial. The band's member ...

) *

Rhys Gemmell Rice Thomas Hopkins Gemmell (1896–1972) was an Australian tennis player. Born in Caulfield, Victoria, by 1916 he was living in Claremont, Western Australia and was enlisted in World War 1 as a bombardier. Gemmell is best known for winning th ...

(born 1896), former tennis player from Australia *

Rhys Hanbury Rhys Hanbury (born 27 August 1985) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Widnes Vikings in the Super League. He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL). Hanbury primari ...

(born 1985), Australian rugby league footballer *

Rhys Hoskins Rhys Dean Hoskins ( ; born March 17, 1993), is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hoskins played college baseball for the Sacramento State Hornets. He was drafted by the ...

(born 1993), American professional baseball player *

Rhys Huber Rhys Huber (born June 24, 1986) is a Canadian actor. He has done English voice work for animation and anime. His most notable role is Li Showron in the '' Cardcaptors'' dub. Animation/Anime Roles * '' Cardcaptors'' as Li Showron * '' Cardcaptor ...

(born 1986), Canadian voice actor * Rhys Hughes (born 1966), Welsh writer *

Rhys Ifans Rhys Ifans (; born Rhys Owain Evans; 22 July 1967) is a Welsh actor and musician. He was the frontman of Welsh rock music bands the Peth and Super Furry Animals. As an actor, he is best known for his roles in ''Notting Hill'' (1999), '' Kevi ...

(born 1967), Welsh actor * Rhys Isaac, professor * Rhys James, English comedian * Rhys Jones (disambiguation), the name of several people * Rhys Jenkins (born 1990), rugby union player * Rhys Millen, car racer * Rhys Muldoon (born 1965), Australian actor * Rhys Oakley (born 1980), Wales international rugby union player * Rhys Palmer (born 1989), Australian rules footballer *

Rhys Patchell Rhys Patchell (born 17 May 1993) is a Wales international rugby union player. A fly-half, he plays for Scarlets having previously played for Cardiff Blues. Early life Educated at Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd and at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf. ...

Welsh rugby union player *

Rhys Priestland Rhys Priestland (born 9 January 1987) is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Cardiff Rugby and the Wales national team. Although he primarily plays as a fly-half, he is also capable of playing at full-back. Bor ...

(born 1987), Welsh rugby union player *

Rhys Rhys-Williams Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, 1st Baronet, (20 October 1865 – 29 January 1955), born Rhys Williams, was a British Liberal Party politician from Wales. He later left the Liberal Party for the Conservatives.''The Times'', 31 January 1955 Family Rhys- ...

(1865–1955), British Liberal Party politician * Rhys Stanley (born 1990), Australian rules footballer *

Rhys Taylor Rhys Francis Taylor (born 7 April 1990) is a Welsh professional Association football, footballer who last played as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C., Bradford (Park Avenue). He has played for Wal ...

(born 1990), Welsh footballer * Rhys Thomas (comedian) (born 1978), English comedian and actor *

Rhys M. Thomas Rhys Muir Thomas (born 31 July 1982) is a former Wales international rugby union prop forward. Career Club career Thomas attended King Edward VII School in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa alongside Joe van Niekerk and Bryan Habana. Desp ...

(born 1982), Welsh international rugby union player * Rhys Wakefield (born 1988), Australian actor * Rhys Webb (born 1988), Welsh rugby union player * Rhys Wesser (born 1979), Australian professional rugby league footballer *

Rhys Williams (rugby union, born 1980) Gethin Rhys Williams (born 23 February 1980 in Cardiff) is a Welsh rugby union player who played for Cardiff Blues and won 44 caps for the Wales national rugby union team as a full-back and winger. During the 2005-2006 season Williams was the cap ...

, Welsh rugby player *

R. H. Williams (rugby union) Rhys Haydn Williams (14 July 1930 – 27 January 1993), born in Cwmllynfell, was a Welsh rugby union lock forward who gained 23 caps for Wales and ten consecutive caps for the British Lions. At club level he played primarily for Llanelli R ...

(1930–1993), Welsh rugby player

People with the middle name or compound last name

* Samaire Rhys Armstrong, (born 1980), American actress *

Griff Rhys Jones Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. Rhys Jones came to national attention in the 1980s for ...

(born 1953), Welsh comedian and presenter * T. Rhys Thomas, Wales international rugby union player *

John Rhys-Davies John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor best known for portraying Sallah in the ''Indiana Jones'' franchise and Gimli in ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy. His other roles include Michael Malone in the 1993 series ''The Untouch ...

(born 1944), Welsh actor * Tim Rhys-Evans (born 1972), Welsh musician *

Brandon Rhys-Williams Sir Brandon Meredith Rhys-Williams, 2nd Baronet (14 November 1927 – 18 May 1988) was a British Conservative politician. Family background His father, Sir Rhys Rhys-Williams, had been a Liberal MP. His mother, Juliet Rhys-Williams, was another ...

(1927–1988), British Conservative Party politician *

(1865–1955), British Liberal Party politician *

Jonathan Rhys Meyers Jonathan Rhys Meyers (born Jonathan Michael Francis O'Keeffe; 27 July 1977) is an Irish actor, model and musician. He is known for his roles in the films '' Michael Collins'' (1996), '' Velvet Goldmine'' (1998), ''Titus'' (1999), ''Bend It Like ...

(born 1977), Irish actor * John Rhys Plumlee (born 2001), American football quarterback for the

University of Central Florida Knights The UCF Knights are the athletic teams that represent the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I ( FBS for football) as a member of the A ...

* * *

Sophie, Countess of Wessex Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Forfar, (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, the youngest brother of King Charles III. She grew ...

(born Sophie Rhys-Jones; 1965) Welsh member of the Commonwealth Royal Family

People with the surname

* Beti Rhys, (1907–2003), Welsh bookstore owner and author * Elen Rhys, (born 1983), Welsh actress * Ernest Rhys (1859–1946), English writer *

Gruff Rhys Gruffudd Maredudd Bowen Rhys (; born 18 July 1970) is a Welsh musician, composer, producer, filmmaker and author. He performs solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals, which obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He formed ...

(born 1970), vocalist and guitarist *

Jean Rhys Jean Rhys, ( ; born Ella Gwendolyn Rees Williams; 24 August 1890 – 14 May 1979) was a British novelist who was born and grew up in the Caribbean island of Dominica. From the age of 16, she mainly resided in England, where she was sent for he ...

(1890–1979), Caribbean writer * Sir

John Rhŷs Sir John Rhŷs, (also spelled Rhys; 21 June 1840 – 17 December 1915) was a Welsh scholar, fellow of the British Academy, Celticist and the first professor of Celtic at Oxford University. Early years and education He was born John Rees a ...

(1840–1915), Celtic scholar at Oxford * John Llewellyn Rhys, an airman memorialised by John Llewellyn Rhys prize *

Keidrych Rhys William Ronald Rhys Jones (26 December 1915 – 22 May 1987), who used the name Keidrych Rhys, was a Welsh literary journalist and editor, and a poet. He was editor of the periodical, ''Wales'', published from 1937 to 1949 and from 1958 to 1 ...

(1915–1987), Welsh literary journalist and editor *

Matthew Rhys Matthew Rhys Evans ( ; born 8 November 1974) is a Welsh actor. He is known for playing Kevin Walker in '' Brothers & Sisters'' (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in ''The Americans'' (2013–2018), for which he received two Golden Globe Awar ...

(born 1974), Welsh actor * Morgan John Rhys (1760–1804), Baptist minister * Paul Rhys (born 1963), Welsh television, film and theatre actor * Phillip Rhys (born 1974), English actor *

Siôn Dafydd Rhys Siôn Dafydd Rhys, in Latin Joannes David Rhaesus, also called John David Rhys, or John Davies (1534 – ), was a Welsh physician and grammarian. He wrote the first Welsh grammar in Latin (the first Welsh grammar in Latin, but not the first Welsh g ...

(1534 – c. 1609), Welsh physician and grammarian

Fictional characters

* Lt Cmdr Gen Rhys, from Star Trek Discovery, portrayed by

Patrick Kwok-Choon Patrick Kwok-Choon (born 19 November 1988) is a Canadian actor, best known for his recurring roles as Perry Crofte in the television adaptation of the horror Western comic book miniseries '' Wynonna Earp'' and as lieutenant commander Gen Rhy ...

. *Rhys (Rhysand), from the series '' A Court of Thorns and Roses'' by Sarah J. Maas * Knight Rhys, a member of the Brotherhood of steel in

Fallout 4 ''Fallout 4'' is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fourth main game in the ''Fallout'' series and was released worldwide on November 10, 2015, for PlayStation 4, Wi ...

* Rhys Winterborne from Marrying Winterborne, by Lisa Kleypas * Rhys, in the '' Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance'' video game * Rhys, in the Merry Gentry book series by Laurell K. Hamilton * Rhys, the central character of the first generation of ''

Phantasy Star III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Sega. It was released for the Sega Genesis in Japan in April 1990 and worldwide the following year. It is the third game in the original ''Phantasy Star'' series, and is a distant sequel t ...

'' * Rhys Strongfork, a main player-character from the '' Tales from the Borderlands'' video game, CEO of the Atlas corporation in ''

Borderlands 3 ''Borderlands 3'' is an action role-playing first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. It is a sequel to 2012's '' Borderlands 2'', and the fourth entry in the main ''Borderlands'' series. ''Borderland ...

'' video game * Rhys, in ''

The Two Princesses of Bamarre ''The Two Princesses of Bamarre'' is a 2001 novel by Gail Carson Levine, the author of Ella Enchanted and several other books. The story revolves around the lives of two sisters who are very close, but as different as night and day. When one o ...

'' by Gail Carson Levine *

Rhys Ashworth Rhys Ashworth is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'', played by Andrew Moss. He made his first on-screen appearance in September 2005. Rhys was killed off in the Enjoy The Ride storyline in an episode air ...

, on the British soap ''Hollyoaks'' * Rhys Dahl, in ''

Switched Switched may refer to: * Switched (band), an American music group * ''Switched'' (novel), first book in the young adult Trylle series by Amanda Hocking * ''Switched!'' (American TV series) * ''Switched!'' (Singaporean TV series) * "Switched" (' ...

'' by Amanda Hlcking * Rhys Dallows, from the video game '' Star Wars: Starfighter'' *

Rhys Lawson Rhys Lawson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'', played by Ben Barber. The actor's casting was announced on 18 May 2011 and he began filming his first scenes the week before opposite established cast members A ...

, from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' * Rhys Lewis, the eponymous subject of the 1885 novel by Daniel Owen * Rhys Maelwaedd, a character of the Deverry Cycle book series *

Rhys Rhysson The Discworld is the fictional setting for all of Terry Pratchett's ''Discworld'' fantasy novels. It consists of a large disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which ar ...

, the Low King of the dwarfs in Terry Pratchett's Discworld books * Rhys Williams, in the BBC science fiction series ''Torchwood'' * Rhys, an elvish hunter in the Gilt-Leaf tribe, from the '' Lorwyn'' and '' Shadowmoor'' blocks of the collectible card game, '' Magic: The Gathering'' * Rhys Sutherland, in the ''Home and Away'' television series

The patronymic form

The surnames Price, Prys, Pris and Preece are derived from the

''ap Rhys'' meaning 'son of Rhys'. Notable people with this surname include: * John Prise or Price (1501–1555), also called Syr Siôn ap Rhys, Welsh scholar and author of the first book to be printed in Welsh, * Hywel ap Rhys (c. 840 – 886), ancient Welsh king of Glywysing *

Tomos Prys Tomos Prys (c.1564–1634) was a Welsh soldier, sailor and poet. He was the eldest son of Ellis Price MP, of Plas Iolyn, Pentrefoelas, Denbighshire. Life He followed a seafaring life for many years, joining expeditions under both Sir Walter R ...

(c. 1564 – 1634), Welsh soldier, sailor and poet