Aaron vs Robert
Aaron and Robert compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Aaron was ranked #50 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #71 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Aaron was ranked #91 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #114 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #187 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #180 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #334 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Aaron and Robert over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Aaron and Robert over time
Aaron and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 241 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Aaron in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Aaron moved ahead of Robert in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #25 and #23 the year before became #19 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aaron and Robert changed places 12 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 2012, ending at #91 and #80.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Aaron and Robert averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #180 and #164.
- Longest-running competitions
Aaron and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #180 and #164.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Aaron #31 in 1998, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1965–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #6 in 1998, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1995: Aaron moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #18 and #14; by 1995 that had become #12 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #71, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys45 shared years, 1966–2012
Aaron held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Robert in 24.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 1972, Robert #9 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Aaron #91, Robert #80.
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1972–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Robert in 27.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #162 in 2015, Robert #33 in 1972.
The order changed in 2025: Aaron moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #354 and #348; by 2025 that had become #334 and #363.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #334, Robert #363.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1969–2003
Aaron held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Robert in 19.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #18 in 1986, Robert #10 in 1969.
The order changed in 1989: Aaron moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #25 and #23; by 1989 that had become #19 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Aaron #50, Robert #95.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Robert in 3.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #31 in 1998, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #180, Robert #164.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aaron held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Robert in 3.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 2000, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Robert moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #99 and #113; by 2022 that had become #131 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaron #187, Robert #93.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Aaron
Pairs where Aaron shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aaron vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #180 and #716.
Aaron · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Aaron vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #180 and #487.
Aaron · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Aaron
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Aaron rose about as far as George fell — from #56 and #222 in 1965 to #112 and #71 in 2025.
George · Aaron · 60 shared years, 1965–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Aaron vs Ross
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Aaron rose about as far as Ross fell — from #222 and #181 in 1965 to #71 and #329 in 2025.
Aaron · Ross · 60 shared years, 1965–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Robert
Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Robert vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #164 and #716.
Robert · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #509.
Robert · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Aaron | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Best known as the name of Moses's elder brother and the first high priest of Israel in the Old Testament; the literal meaning of the name itself is not reliably established. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin) | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛrən/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aaron is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin) origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Aaron and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Aaron's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Aaron
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #180 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys