Anglicized from Welsh 'ap Rhys' meaning son of Rhys; Rhys means ardor or enthusiasm.
Price carries the distinctive music of Welsh heritage, originating as a patronymic surname derived from "ap Rhys" — meaning "son of Rhys." The underlying name Rhys (also spelled Reese) is one of the oldest Welsh given names, meaning "enthusiasm," "ardor," or "passion." Rhys was borne by several medieval Welsh princes, including Rhys ap Tewdwr and the great Lord Rhys (Rhys ap Gruffudd), rulers who shaped the political landscape of medieval Wales.
When Welsh families anglicized their naming conventions under English administrative pressure, "ap Rhys" contracted to Pryce and then Price, eventually making the leap from surname to given name. As a first name, Price occupies the growing category of surname-derived masculine names that carry a sense of heritage and quiet strength — cousins to surnames-as-forenames like Brooks, Reid, or Hayes. The actor Vincent Price brought the name into 20th-century cultural consciousness with his incomparably theatrical horror film career, giving it a deliciously Gothic edge.
Today, Price as a given name feels simultaneously rooted and modern — grounded in Celtic antiquity yet sleek enough for contemporary use. It suits parents drawn to names with historical depth that still feel fresh and uncluttered on a birth certificate.