The baby name Rex fell out of favor in the 1990s. But today, this regal vintage gem might be prime for revival.
Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day: Rex.
LITTLE RULER
Even without Latin 101, we all know that Rex is the Latin for king.
There’s the scary dinosaur and Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex.
Not exactly a cuddly combination.
The king of Rome – a titled that pre-dated the Empire ancient days – was known as the Rex Romae.
This puts the baby name Rex in the company of regal picks like Kingsley and Reign. But while those are modern favorites, seldom heard before the twenty-first century, Rex has centuries of use.
CANINE REX
The only hitch? A great many of those famous uses were for dogs.
But there’s a noble backstory.
During World War II, a British search and rescue dog named Rex received the Dickin Medal – the highest honor given to animals serving in war.
To Americans, however, the most famous canine Rex might’ve moved into the White House with Ron and Nancy during President Reagan’s term. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rex performed a number of official duties, including helping to light the National Christmas Tree.
While the 80s are long gone, Rex was famous in his day.
There’s a sheepdog from the pig flick Babe called Rex, as well as the claymation pooch starring in Rex the Runt.
Combined with plenty of other dogs by the name, it’s enough to explain why some hear it and think canine.
HARRISON + MORE FAMOUS (HUMAN) REXES
Except Rex the dog was likely named for a long-serving White House staffer.
And famous men named Rex are plentiful.
Hollywood star Rex Harrison is probably best remembered for playing Professor Henry Higgins opposite Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. He earned an Oscar for the part in 1964. And he’d previously won a Tony Award for playing the part on Broadway.
But Harrison’s career spanned five decades, including television and radio as well as stage and screen. He lends the baby name Rex a mix of leading man dash and subtle British charm.
Other famous bearers of the name include:
- Author Rex Stout, known for creating the fictional detective Nero Wolfe.
- Film critic Rex Reed.
- Actor and singer-songwriter Rex Allen, best remembered for his cowboy persona and role narrating many Disney projects, along with other voice over work.
- American football coach turned analyst Rex Ryan.
- Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
TOY REX
While Rex has been in steady use across the generations, most of those men suggest someone north of forty, if not far older.
And that’s accurate – but a handful of pop culture uses have shifted the baby name Rex younger.
One notable use: the nervous dinosaur in the Toy Story movies. Voiced by actor Wallace Shawn, Rex has appeared in all four movies, beginning in 1995.
That’s an entire generation, now all grown up, who find Rex right at home in a playroom.
KING of MARDI GRAS
There’s one more use that might come to mind.
In New Orleans, Rex is King of Mardi Gras.
The annual celebration features parades with massive floats. They’re organized by krewes – local civic organizations that both parade and support various charitable causes in the community.
Rex is the oldest, organized by local businessmen way back in 1872.
The krewe’s parade is the highlight of Mardi Gras, and Rex’s role is to receive the key to the city from the mayor and then lead the traditional ball. It’s considered a significant honor, one earned after many years of service to the community.
Yet another reason to hear the baby name Rex as royal.
BY the NUMBERS
The baby name Rex peaked in use in the early 1950s, reaching #170 in 1951.
That’s pre-peak Rex Harrison, but right around the time Rex Allen appeared on screen as a cowboy in a series of Westerns. Not only was he on screen, but his character’s name in many of those films?
Also Rex Allen.
It makes the baby name Rex surprising flexible. At home on the range … or having tea with the queen.
The pair of famous Rexes probably kept the name in use for a dozen years or so, but it steadily fell out of use. It left the US Top 1000 entirely after 1998, and in the year 2000, just 112 boys received the name.
REVIVAL
The baby name Rex didn’t languish in obscurity for long.
Parents love boy names ending with X. Just ask Max and Jax.
Though, with such a long history of use, the baby name Rex might be more like Felix or Dexter than Huxley or Dax.
As of 2020, the baby name Rex ranked #681.
That’s not exactly Liam, but it’s moving in the right direction.
If you’re after short, complete, strong, and not-too-common, the baby name Rex might belong on your list.
What do you think of the baby name Rex?
First published on November 14, 2008, this post was revised and re-published on March 1, 2022.
I *still* love Rex and am inclined to use him. Short, snappy, solidly masculine. I highly doubt there will be any little girl Rex’s running around! Unlike our #2, Remy, Rex is All male and I like that he’s familiar to all while still remaining uncommon. Yep, Rex is a solid winner for me!
As a retired thespian, one of my first associations with ‘Rex’ is Alfred Jarry’s absurd play Ubu Roi (aka Ubu Rex), which, if you know the play, probably doesn’t to ‘Rex’ any favours! Notwithstanding the bumbling Ubu, I like the boldness of Rex, but probably not as a first name.
It’s OK.. but probably would prefer it for a dog!
I’m somewhere in the middle for Rex.
Still, I think we will hear more of this one – think Max and Knox. And surely I’m not the only one out there who thinks Rex Harrison lends the name some real style.
Plus, there seem to be a lot of of mamas out there hoping their babies grow up to be cowboys – and I betcha Rex would appeal to some of them. Rex fits in with Cash and Knox.
I don’t like Rex. It does sound like a dog’s name to me and I automatically think either dinosaur or dog. I couldn’t do that to my kid. He will probably be made fun of.
It also reminds me of a guy I used to know who was a jerk.
Lola, I’m pretty much against top 100 names too. There are a few exceptions but I would save those for middle names.
I like Rex! I teach a little boy whose father is named Rex, so I suppose that’s what makes it read more human than animal to me.
Speaking of animal associations, though, I think “dinosaur” before I think “dog.”
I’ve really been digging Rex the last few months and I’ve been hiding him in third place, to boot: Cassius Barnaby Rex. He’s a bit grander than I normally like but I am so liking his vibe!
I’ve been toying with him in first place. I’m really liking his simple strength and his lordly feel. But like most one syllables, I have trouble pairing him so he feels right, flow wise. I got lucky with Maud!
Rex Harrison is where I first heard it. “My Fair Lady” is, hands down my favorite musical, for the costuming alone (another bizarre love of mine), it’s stunning. But the music and classic ‘Pygmalion-esque” plot works very nicely too. No family Reggie’s for me to honor. The closest I get to a Reggie is my brother’s fandom of Reggie Jackson when we were kids. I’d be willing to wager my kid brother would really like a nephew named Rex.
I’m into simple R names right now, Remy is my other favorite (and I have him as a standalone (Remy Valentin __ or Remy Vincent __ right now) as well as a nickname for the more classic & stodgy Remus. (Which works better for the Mr. Who likes strong, manly and more than a tiny bit OTT) And I can still get Rex as a nickname, since the combo is Remus Edward Xavier and his initials would be REX. I’m fine with that as well.
I can’t wait to see if anyone else posts on him, I think he’s a touch polarising. I get “Hate” or “Love” when I mention Rex, no gray there! 🙂 I want to see if I’m mistaken in what I think or not.
Well, can’t have all winners, can I? 😀
On the plus side for me, anyway, if everyone else hates it, he’s likely to be the only one! With my surname gone to the girls, it’s tougher than you think to match it to a less common boy name that doesn’t end up sounding girly. I am firmly against anything for me in the top 100 these days!
I’m with Kim. (Major eye roll on this one.)
Count me firmly in the “Hate” category, Lola! I can’t get past the dog name connotations. It even sounds like a bark to me, onomonopoetically at least.
I prefer my male names a bit smoother, I suppose.