Adam vs Dennis
Adam and Denniscompared 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 1970, Adam was ranked #23 and Dennis #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Adam was ranked #24 and Dennis #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #25 and Dennis #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #26 and Dennis #478 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #29 and Dennis #156 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1965, Adam was ranked #90 and Dennis #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Adam and Dennis over time
Adam and Dennis appear together in 4 published lists, across 160 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Dennis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dennis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Adam in 1. 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 1962, Adam moved ahead of Dennis in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #84 and #73 the year before became #64 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adam and Dennis changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1952 and 2025, ending at #29 and #156.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Dennis were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #26 and #478.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1952–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Dennis in 17.
Highest recorded here: Adam #15 in 2023, Dennis #70 in 2002.
The order changed in 2011: Adam moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #76 and #73; by 2011 that had become #69 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #29, Dennis #156.
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1965–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Dennis in 3.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Dennis #170 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #25, Dennis #655.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Dennis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Dennis #316 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #26, Dennis #478.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1961–1970
Adam held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Dennis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Adam #23 in 1970, Dennis #73 in 1961.
The order changed in 1962: Adam moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #84 and #73; by 1962 that had become #64 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Adam #23, Dennis #100.
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 Adam
Pairs where Adam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adam vs Einar
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Einar fell — from #380 and #28 in 1952 to #29 and #57 in 2025.
Adam · Einar · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Erik
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Erik fell — from #380 and #31 in 1952 to #29 and #64 in 2025.
Adam · Erik · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Espen
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Espen fell — from #380 and #249 in 1952 to #29 and #430 in 2025.
Adam · Espen · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Nils
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Nils fell — from #380 and #26 in 1952 to #29 and #61 in 2025.
Adam · Nils · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Adam | Dennis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Norway · Boys #156 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Dennis does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam and Dennis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Dennis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Dennis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1970
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1970).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys