Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Rex
BoyLatin· “king”
- Meaning
- king
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- REKS
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #859
- US babies 2025
- 281
- Best rank
- #170 (1951)
- Peak year
- 1951
Meaning and origin of Rex
Rex is a Latin name that means “king”.
Rex is the Latin word for "king," and it has been used as an English given name since the nineteenth century. It carries a bold, confident character in just three letters. The name was often used as a nickname or short form, sometimes for Reginald, and it later became a common name for dogs, which gave it a playful reputation for a time. Today Rex has come back into style as a short, strong choice for boys, fitting the taste for names ending in x. It is easy to spell, hard to forget and works well with longer middle names.
Popularity over time
Rex has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 142 different years. Its best national rank was #170 in 1951, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,503 babies. In 2025, 281 babies were named Rex, and it ranked #859 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #210 in 1920, #196 in 1950, #488 in 1980, #1,213 in 2000, #704 in 2010, and #859 in 2025. Of the 60,449 US boys named Rex since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 8,735 babies. Since 2010, 6,051 more have been named Rex.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Donnie, Randolph, Laurence, Sherman, and Denis.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rex ranked highest in Utah, Oklahoma, and Arizona.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Rex is usually pronounced REKS, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with R and ends in “-ex”.
Middle names for Rex
A few middle names that flow with Rex: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rex
Similar names
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Lists that include Rex
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rex mean?
Rex is a Latin name that means “king”.
What is the origin of the name Rex?
Rex has Latin roots. Rex is the Latin word for "king," and it has been used as an English given name since the nineteenth century.
Is Rex a popular name?
Yes. Rex ranked #859 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Rex a boy or girl name?
Rex is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Rex?
Rex is usually pronounced REKS. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings