Rex Boy

Popularity: #664 · 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.

MaxLexJaxDexTessZoe

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.

RexfordRexanneRexyRexieRextonRexel

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Rex has ranked as high as #373 nationally, which occurred in 1952, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 281 281 0
2024 320 320 0
2023 368 368 0
2022 380 380 0
2021 380 380 0
2020 377 377 0
2019 410 410 0
2018 421 421 0
2017 434 434 0
2016 423 423 0
2015 374 374 0
2014 389 389 0
2013 391 391 0
2012 385 385 0
2011 386 386 0
2010 332 332 0
2009 303 303 0
2008 274 274 0
2007 236 236 0
2006 252 252 0
2005 237 237 0
2004 182 182 0
2003 182 182 0
2002 154 154 0
2001 116 116 0
2000 112 112 0
1999 137 137 0
1998 151 151 0
1997 152 152 0
1996 139 139 0
1995 157 157 0
1994 167 167 0
1993 178 178 0
1992 207 207 0
1991 220 220 0
1990 232 232 0
1989 224 224 0
1988 247 247 0
1987 231 231 0
1986 232 232 0
1985 261 261 0
1984 264 258 6
1983 246 246 0
1982 265 265 0
1981 268 268 0
1980 305 300 5
1979 267 260 7
1978 255 255 0
1977 291 291 0
1976 283 283 0
1975 296 296 0
1974 297 297 0
1973 324 324 0
1972 373 373 0
1971 473 473 0
1970 507 507 0
1969 478 478 0
1968 515 515 0
1967 581 581 0
1966 718 718 0
1965 787 787 0
1964 964 957 7
1963 983 983 0
1962 1,133 1,133 0
1961 1,279 1,269 10
1960 1,320 1,314 6
1959 1,288 1,283 5
1958 1,251 1,243 8
1957 1,333 1,326 7
1956 1,458 1,452 6
1955 1,400 1,400 0
1954 1,385 1,380 5
1953 1,351 1,345 6
1952 1,505 1,498 7
1951 1,503 1,503 0
1950 1,069 1,069 0
1949 959 959 0
1948 904 904 0
1947 846 846 0
1946 662 662 0
1945 486 486 0
1944 574 574 0
1943 614 614 0
1942 527 521 6
1941 558 558 0
1940 552 547 5
1939 564 564 0
1938 628 628 0
1937 601 601 0
1936 612 612 0
1935 653 647 6
1934 631 631 0
1933 626 626 0
1932 586 580 6
1931 520 520 0
1930 540 540 0
1929 492 492 0
1928 525 519 6
1927 526 518 8
1926 552 552 0
1925 562 553 9
1924 594 589 5
1923 584 584 0
1922 615 615 0
1921 596 591 5
1920 614 614 0
1919 523 523 0
1918 509 509 0
1917 471 471 0
1916 461 461 0
1915 401 401 0
1914 334 334 0
1913 243 243 0
1912 164 164 0
1911 82 82 0
1910 65 65 0
1909 68 68 0
1908 64 64 0
1907 48 48 0
1906 61 61 0
1905 46 46 0
1904 33 33 0
1903 43 43 0
1902 46 46 0
1901 29 29 0
1900 59 59 0
1899 29 29 0
1898 39 39 0
1897 31 31 0
1896 35 35 0
1895 34 34 0
1894 30 30 0
1893 25 25 0
1892 28 28 0
1891 24 24 0
1890 30 30 0
1889 23 23 0
1888 28 28 0
1887 28 28 0
1886 26 26 0
1885 17 17 0
1884 13 13 0
1883 15 15 0
1882 13 13 0
1881 7 7 0
1880 13 13 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 35
13%
TX 29
11%
NY 15
5%
FL 14
5%
OH 12
4%
UT 11
4%
AZ 11
4%
WA 11
4%
MO 10
4%
IN 9
3%
OR 9
3%
IL 8
3%
KY 8
3%
GA 8
3%
PA 8
3%
AR 7
3%
MN 7
3%
NC 7
3%
TN 7
3%
VA 6
2%
MI 6
2%
CO 6
2%
IA 6
2%
NE 5
2%
MD 5
2%
OK 5
2%
SD 5
2%
ID 5
2%