Rhian
A Welsh feminine name probably derived from a Celtic word meaning "maiden".
Name Census estimates that about 996 living Americans carry the first name Rhian. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 87.6% of registrations being female. The average person named Rhian today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rhian births was 2007 (64 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rhian. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
996
~ 1 in 344,131 Americans
Peak year
2007
64 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2021 SSA rank
#10,882
Tracked since 1977
Gender
Gender distribution for Rhian
Rhian leans heavily female at 87.6% of total registrations, but 126 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Rhian as a male name
- Ranked #11,830 in 2021
- 6 male births in 2021
- Peak: 1977 (10 births)
Rhian as a female name
- Ranked #10,882 in 2024
- 9 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (59 births)
Popularity
Rhian: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rhian from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 384 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhian by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rhian during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rhians live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, California, Ohio recorded the most babies named Rhian, while Ohio, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rhian
The name Rhian is a Welsh name that has its origins in the ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Britain and continental Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh word "rhiain," meaning "maiden" or "young woman." This suggests that the name may have been used to refer to unmarried women or girls in the early days of Welsh culture.
In terms of historical references, the name Rhian is not prominently featured in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it has been documented in various Welsh records and literature over the centuries, reflecting its enduring presence in the Welsh cultural landscape.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rhian can be found in the Welsh manuscript known as the "Black Book of Carmarthen," which dates back to the late 12th or early 13th century. This manuscript contains a collection of Welsh poetry and folklore, indicating that the name was in use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rhian. Among them is Rhian Gillian Davies (1926-2003), a Welsh actress known for her roles in various British television series and films. Another prominent figure was Rhian Williams (1937-2019), a Welsh-born American computer scientist and educator who made significant contributions to the field of computer programming languages.
Another historical figure worth mentioning is Rhian Benson (1925-2018), a Welsh painter and printmaker renowned for her landscapes and portraiture. Her works are held in various collections, including the National Museum of Wales and the Tate Gallery in London.
In the realm of literature, the name Rhian was borne by Rhian Navin, a Welsh author and playwright who lived from 1930 to 2002. Her works explored themes of Welsh identity and culture, and she was an influential figure in the Welsh literary scene of the 20th century.
Lastly, Rhian Wilkinson (born 1982) is a notable Canadian soccer player and coach. She played as a defender for the Canadian national team and participated in multiple FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments, earning over 180 caps for her country.
These examples showcase the enduring presence of the name Rhian across various fields, including the arts, sciences, and sports, throughout different time periods and geographical locations.
People
Rhian + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rhian as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rhian: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rhian?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 996 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rhian going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 344,131 US residents.
Is Rhian a common name?
We classify Rhian as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,015 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rhian most popular?
The single biggest year for Rhian was 2007, when 64 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rhian is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rhian a female name?
Yes, 87.6% of people registered as Rhian in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.