Namewise

Adam vs Richard

Adam and Richardcompared 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.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Adam was ranked #15 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Adam was ranked #26 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1997, Adam was ranked #26 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Adam was ranked #31 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1999, Adam was ranked #47 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.

Adam and Richard over time

Adam and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 258 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Richard in 2.

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.

Richard 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 1971, Adam moved ahead of Richard in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #23 and #21 the year before became #18 and #21.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Adam and Richard changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1952 and 2023, ending at #15 and #481.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adam and Richard averaged 34.1 places apart, ending at #26 and #98.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 71 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Richard fell — from #380 and #208 in 1952 to #15 and #481 in 2023.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Adam and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #26 and #431.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys71 shared years, 1952–2023

    Adam held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Richard in 43.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #15 in 2023, Richard #80 in 1979.

    The order changed in 1999: Adam moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #213 and #191; by 1999 that had become #168 and #201.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Adam #15, Richard #481.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025

    Adam held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Richard in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Richard #20 in 1986.

    The order changed in 1991: Adam moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #44 and #28; by 1991 that had become #31 and #35.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Richard #232.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1961–1997

    Adam held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Richard in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #7 in 1979, Richard #18 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1971: Adam moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #23 and #21; by 1971 that had become #18 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Adam #26, Richard #98.

  • New Zealand · Boys35 shared years, 1965–1999

    Adam held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Richard in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #13 in 1986, Richard #9 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1991: Adam moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #31 and #26; by 1991 that had become #32 and #35.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Adam #47, Richard #81.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Adam held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Richard in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #26, Richard #431.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022

    Adam held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Richard #77 in 1999.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Adam #31, Richard #311.

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.

Other comparisons involving Richard

Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Adam, Richard
FieldAdamRichard
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth.From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
OriginBiblical HebrewGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈædəm//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Adam is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
  • Adam and Richard both have 2 syllables.
  • Adam's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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

Adam

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys