Rex Boy

Popularity: #620 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: REKS //rɛks//

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: king; English: regal

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Rex originates from the Latin word "rex," meaning "king." This term can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *reg-, which conveys the idea of ruling or directing. The transition into English occurred through the influence of Latin during the Roman occupation of Britain and later through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where Latin and Old French terms permeated the English language.

As a result, Rex emerged as a given name in English-speaking contexts, symbolizing authority and leadership. Historically, the name Rex has been associated with various notable figures and events.

In the context of biblical history, the term is often linked to the concept of kingship, as seen in the titles of figures such as King David and King Solomon. The name gained further prominence during the medieval period, particularly in reference to monarchs and rulers across Europe.

The use of Rex in royal titles, such as "Rex Angliae" (King of England), solidified its association with sovereignty and governance. The name also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the King James Bible, which was published in the early 17th century and contributed to the cultural resonance of the term.

Culturally, Rex embodies notions of power and nobility, making it a symbol of leadership throughout history. Its usage in heraldry and royal insignia further emphasizes its regal connotations.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Rexy, which, while less common, reflect a more affectionate or familiar approach to the name. Overall, Rex remains a name steeped in historical significance, representing authority and the enduring legacy of kingship.

Famous people named Rex

In this section, you will find notable people named Rex. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Rex who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Rex who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Rex Harrison is an actor best known for My Fair Lady, Doctor Dolittle, and Cleopatra.

Rex Ryan is a former American football coach best known for coaching the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.

Fictional characters named Rex

The following list of fictional characters named Rex is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Rex is a fictional character from the animated television series Rex, the Lone Dinosaur. He is a friendly Tyrannosaurus rex who embarks on adventures with his friends while navigating the challenges of prehistoric life.

Rex is a fictional character from the video game series Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. He is a key member of the special operations team, often involved in critical missions against global threats.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Rex, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Rex. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Rex was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Rex has ranked as high as #351 nationally, which occurred in 1951, and has been most popular in California, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Rex has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Rex is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Rex was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Rex (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 35
13%
TX 29
11%
NY 15
6%
FL 14
5%
OH 12
4%
UT 11
4%
AZ 11
4%
WA 11
4%
MO 10
4%
IN 9
3%
OR 9
3%
GA 8
3%
PA 8
3%
IL 8
3%
KY 8
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Rex.

YearBirths
2024316
2023367
2022380
2021379
2020377
2019410
2018420
2017434
2016423
2015374
2014389
2013391
2012385
2011386
2010332
2009303
2008274
2007236
2006252
2005237
2004182
2003182
2002154
2001116
2000112
1999137
1998151
1997152
1996139
1995158
1994167
1993178
1992207
1991220
1990232
1989224
1988247
1987231
1986232
1985261
1984258
1983246
1982266
1981268
1980300
1979260
1978255
1977291
1976283
1975296
1974297
1973325
1972373
1971473
1970507
1969478
1968514
1967581
1966718
1965787
1964957
1963984
19621,132
19611,269
19601,312
19591,284
19581,243
19571,326
19561,452
19551,400
19541,379
19531,346
19521,498
19511,503
19501,069
1949959
1948903
1947846
1946662
1945485
1944574
1943614
1942521
1941558
1940547
1939564
1938628
1937601
1936612
1935647
1934631
1933626
1932580
1931520
1930540
1929492
1928519
1927518
1926552
1925553
1924589
1923584
1922615
1921591
1920614
1919523
1918509
1917471
1916461
1915401
1914334
1913243
1912164
191182
191065
190968
190864
190748
190661
190546
190433
190343
190246
190129
190059
189929
189839
189731
189635
189534
189430
189325
189228
189124
189030
188923
188828
188728
188626
188517
188413
188315
188213
18817
188013