Boy name · Latin
Rex
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: kingRex is a boy's name that comes from Latin and means "king". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- King
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #859 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Rex
As a boy's name, Rex comes from Latin and means "king". It is used in English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Rex on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Rex on 9 lists.
“King of the backyard and every dinosaur toy”
From Funny middle names, funny middle names for boys
“Latin for king; short, strong and easy to call”
From Boy cat names, strong male cat names
“Latin for king, short and commanding”
From Boy dog names, classic names for male dogs
“King; Latin. Short, regal and bold”
From Boy middle names, one-syllable boy middle names
“King; Latin. Big personality, three letters”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“King; Latin, short, bold and a little playful”
From Cute boy names, short and cute boy names
“Latin for king, a classic dog name”
From Firefighter dog names, brave and strong fire dog names
“King; Latin. A big personality in three letters”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
“Latin for king, and a dinosaur favorite”
From Tyranitar nicknames, boy Tyranitar nicknames
How popular is Rex?
- US rank in 2025
- #859
- 281 babies, 165 per million boys
- Best rank
- #170 in 1951
- 1,503 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 60,449
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 167 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 267 per million |
| 1900s | 366 per million |
| 1910s | 487 per million |
| 1920s | 511 per million |
| 1930s | 563 per million |
| 1940s | 448 per million |
| 1950s | 668 per million |
| 1960s | 453 per million |
| 1970s | 203 per million |
| 1980s | 137 per million |
| 1990s | 89 per million |
| 2000s | 103 per million |
| 2010s | 210 per million |
| 2020s | 203 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #633 | #607 | #631 | #651 | #683 | #698 | #697 | #722 | #787 | #859 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Rex
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ReiTinkling jade (depends on characters) (Japanese, unisex)
- RenLotus; love (depends on characters) (Japanese, unisex)
- RioRiver (Spanish, unisex)
- ReidRed-haired (Old English, boy)
- RemyOarsman, rower (Latin, unisex)
- ReneReborn (Latin, unisex)
- RoyRed (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- RabBright fame (Germanic, boy)
- RajKing, rule (Sanskrit, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ReaganLittle king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- AbdulmalikServant of the King (Arabic, boy)
- AdaezePrincess, king's daughter (Igbo, girl)
- BaltasarBel protect the king (Akkadian, boy)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- EmyrKing, lord (Welsh, boy)
- FlaithríKing of princes (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GökhanKing of the sky (Turkish, boy)
- GolshahFlower of the king (Persian, girl)
Middle names for Rex
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Latin
Rex: common questions
What does the name Rex mean?
Rex comes from Latin and means "king".
Is Rex a boy or girl name?
Rex is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Rex come from?
Rex comes from Latin and means "king". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Rex?
Rex ranked #859 in the US in 2025, with 281 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Rex?
Names spelled like Rex include Rei, Ren, Rio, Reid and Remy.
What middle names go with Rex?
Middle names that flow well with Rex include Abraham, Burton, Emmett, Langston and Leander. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.