Adam vs Glenn
Adam and Glenncompared 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 1986, Adam was ranked #10 and Glenn #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Adam was ranked #12 and Glenn #343 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Glenn #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Adam was ranked #21 and Glenn #100 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Glenn #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2012, Adam was ranked #67 and Glenn #545 among boys in Norway.
Adam and Glenn over time
Adam and Glenn appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glenn in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Glenn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Adam 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 1968, Adam moved ahead of Glenn in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #42 and #28 the year before became #27 and #39.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adam and Glenn averaged 41.1 places apart, ending at #10 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #380 and #340 in 1952 to #67 and #545 in 2012.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Glenn were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1952 to 2012, ending at #67 and #545.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1952–2012
Adam held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Glenn in 45.
Highest recorded here: Adam #67 in 2012, Glenn #57 in 1974.
The order changed in 1999: Adam moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #213 and #192; by 1999 that had become #168 and #193.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Adam #67, Glenn #545.
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1965–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Glenn in 13.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Glenn #92 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Glenn #829.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Glenn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Glenn #278 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Glenn #5119.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1961–1986
Adam held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Glenn in 7.
Highest recorded here: Adam #7 in 1979, Glenn #16 in 1962.
The order changed in 1968: Adam moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #42 and #28; by 1968 that had become #27 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Adam #10, Glenn #99.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1965–1983
Adam held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Glenn in 11.
Highest recorded here: Adam #21 in 1983, Glenn #28 in 1971.
The order changed in 1976: Adam moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #49 and #36; by 1976 that had become #44 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Adam #21, Glenn #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Adam held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Glenn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Glenn #104 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Adam #12, Glenn #343.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Adam | Glenn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Glenn.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Glenn 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 #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys