Adam vs Roderick
Adam and Roderickcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Roderick #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Roderick #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1990, Adam was ranked #44 and Roderick #323 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Adam and Roderick over time
Adam and Roderick appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Roderick in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Roderick reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 Roderick in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #206 and #167 the year before became #164 and #217.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Roderick fell — from #157 and #148 in 1965 to #44 and #323 in 1990.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Roderick #1040 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Roderick in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Roderick #1040 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Roderick #5119.
Republic of Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1965–1990
Adam held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Roderick in 6.
Highest recorded here: Adam #44 in 1990, Roderick #146 in 1968.
The order changed in 1971: Adam moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #206 and #167; by 1971 that had become #164 and #217.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Adam #44, Roderick #323.
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 | Roderick |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Roderick does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Roderick.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Roderick doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Roderick
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #146 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–1990).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys