Adam vs Harley
Adam and Harleycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Harley #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Harley #148 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #38 and Harley #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Harley #352 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2017, Adam was ranked #43 and Harley #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Adam was ranked #89 and Harley #91 among boys in New Zealand.
Adam and Harley over time
Adam and Harley appear together in 4 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Harley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Adam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Harley 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Harley fell — from #44 and #323 in 1990 to #20 and #509 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Harley #45 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Harley #148.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2004–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2005, Harley #90 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #38, Harley #278.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1990–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Harley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2005, Harley #181 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Harley #509.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1986–2023
Adam held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Harley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Adam #13 in 1986, Harley #75 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adam #89, Harley #91.
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 | Harley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (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); Harley does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam and Harley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Harley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Harley
Popularity journey
First recorded1986
First recorded at #94 among boys in New Zealand in 1986 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in England and Wales, in 2014 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls