UK boy's name
Rhion
A Welsh masculine name derived from the word "rhion," meaning promontory or projecting point.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rhion is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rhion popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 7 births.
This profile covers 67 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 70 living people in the UK are called Rhion. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rhion ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 7 boys were registered as Rhion.
- • Rhion ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
- • About 70 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rhion as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
7 births
Estimated living
70
2026
Meaning
What does Rhion mean?
The name Rhion is believed to have originated from the Welsh language, where it is thought to be derived from the Welsh word "rhion," meaning "promontory" or "headland." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with geographical features or locations in Wales.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rhion can be traced back to the 6th century AD, when it appeared in ancient Welsh literature and manuscripts. In the famous Welsh tale of "Culhwch and Olwen," one of the characters is named Rhion Ren, suggesting that the name was in use during this period.
Historically, the name Rhion has been associated with Welsh nobility and royalty. In the 12th century, Rhion ap Iorwerth was a prominent Welsh prince and ruler of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh princes and the Norman invaders during that time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Rhion was Rhion ap Maelgwn, a 6th-century Welsh king who ruled the Kingdom of Gwynedd. He is mentioned in various medieval Welsh genealogies and is believed to have been a powerful ruler during his time.
In the 14th century, Rhion ap Gruffydd was a Welsh nobleman and landowner who held significant estates in Anglesey. He is mentioned in several historical records and is known to have been involved in disputes over land ownership during that period.
In more recent times, Rhion Pritchard was a Welsh poet and writer who lived from 1811 to 1887. He is considered one of the most prominent Welsh-language poets of the 19th century and is known for his works that celebrated Welsh culture and identity.
While the name Rhion has its roots in Welsh history and culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, though it remains relatively uncommon outside of Wales and Welsh communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rhion over time
The chart below shows babies named Rhion registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rhion, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhion by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rhion was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3872 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3889 | 35 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3876 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Rhion is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rhion. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rhion ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #638 in 2008.
Across the UK
Rhion in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#638 in 2008
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rhion
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rhion: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rhion in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rhion was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rhion most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 7 babies registered as Rhion in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rhion?
A Welsh masculine name derived from the word "rhion," meaning promontory or projecting point.
How many people are called Rhion in the UK?
A total of 67 babies have been registered as Rhion across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Rhion most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rhion ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #638 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.