Rex Boy
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 | |
| TX | 29 | |
| NY | 15 | |
| FL | 14 | |
| OH | 12 | |
| UT | 11 | |
| AZ | 11 | |
| WA | 11 | |
| MO | 10 | |
| IN | 9 | |
| OR | 9 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| PA | 8 | |
| IL | 8 | |
| KY | 8 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 316 |
| 2023 | 367 |
| 2022 | 380 |
| 2021 | 379 |
| 2020 | 377 |
| 2019 | 410 |
| 2018 | 420 |
| 2017 | 434 |
| 2016 | 423 |
| 2015 | 374 |
| 2014 | 389 |
| 2013 | 391 |
| 2012 | 385 |
| 2011 | 386 |
| 2010 | 332 |
| 2009 | 303 |
| 2008 | 274 |
| 2007 | 236 |
| 2006 | 252 |
| 2005 | 237 |
| 2004 | 182 |
| 2003 | 182 |
| 2002 | 154 |
| 2001 | 116 |
| 2000 | 112 |
| 1999 | 137 |
| 1998 | 151 |
| 1997 | 152 |
| 1996 | 139 |
| 1995 | 158 |
| 1994 | 167 |
| 1993 | 178 |
| 1992 | 207 |
| 1991 | 220 |
| 1990 | 232 |
| 1989 | 224 |
| 1988 | 247 |
| 1987 | 231 |
| 1986 | 232 |
| 1985 | 261 |
| 1984 | 258 |
| 1983 | 246 |
| 1982 | 266 |
| 1981 | 268 |
| 1980 | 300 |
| 1979 | 260 |
| 1978 | 255 |
| 1977 | 291 |
| 1976 | 283 |
| 1975 | 296 |
| 1974 | 297 |
| 1973 | 325 |
| 1972 | 373 |
| 1971 | 473 |
| 1970 | 507 |
| 1969 | 478 |
| 1968 | 514 |
| 1967 | 581 |
| 1966 | 718 |
| 1965 | 787 |
| 1964 | 957 |
| 1963 | 984 |
| 1962 | 1,132 |
| 1961 | 1,269 |
| 1960 | 1,312 |
| 1959 | 1,284 |
| 1958 | 1,243 |
| 1957 | 1,326 |
| 1956 | 1,452 |
| 1955 | 1,400 |
| 1954 | 1,379 |
| 1953 | 1,346 |
| 1952 | 1,498 |
| 1951 | 1,503 |
| 1950 | 1,069 |
| 1949 | 959 |
| 1948 | 903 |
| 1947 | 846 |
| 1946 | 662 |
| 1945 | 485 |
| 1944 | 574 |
| 1943 | 614 |
| 1942 | 521 |
| 1941 | 558 |
| 1940 | 547 |
| 1939 | 564 |
| 1938 | 628 |
| 1937 | 601 |
| 1936 | 612 |
| 1935 | 647 |
| 1934 | 631 |
| 1933 | 626 |
| 1932 | 580 |
| 1931 | 520 |
| 1930 | 540 |
| 1929 | 492 |
| 1928 | 519 |
| 1927 | 518 |
| 1926 | 552 |
| 1925 | 553 |
| 1924 | 589 |
| 1923 | 584 |
| 1922 | 615 |
| 1921 | 591 |
| 1920 | 614 |
| 1919 | 523 |
| 1918 | 509 |
| 1917 | 471 |
| 1916 | 461 |
| 1915 | 401 |
| 1914 | 334 |
| 1913 | 243 |
| 1912 | 164 |
| 1911 | 82 |
| 1910 | 65 |
| 1909 | 68 |
| 1908 | 64 |
| 1907 | 48 |
| 1906 | 61 |
| 1905 | 46 |
| 1904 | 33 |
| 1903 | 43 |
| 1902 | 46 |
| 1901 | 29 |
| 1900 | 59 |
| 1899 | 29 |
| 1898 | 39 |
| 1897 | 31 |
| 1896 | 35 |
| 1895 | 34 |
| 1894 | 30 |
| 1893 | 25 |
| 1892 | 28 |
| 1891 | 24 |
| 1890 | 30 |
| 1889 | 23 |
| 1888 | 28 |
| 1887 | 28 |
| 1886 | 26 |
| 1885 | 17 |
| 1884 | 13 |
| 1883 | 15 |
| 1882 | 13 |
| 1881 | 7 |
| 1880 | 13 |