Adam vs Terry
Adam and Terrycompared 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 1972, Adam was ranked #13 and Terry #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Terry #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Adam was ranked #31 and Terry #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Terry #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1968, Adam was ranked #85 and Terry #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Adam and Terry over time
Adam and Terry appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Terry 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.
Terry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1963, Adam moved ahead of Terry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #64 and #63 the year before became #59 and #72.
- Mirrored each other
Over 47 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Terry fell — from #158 and #307 in 1972 to #20 and #509 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Terry were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #20 and #509.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1972–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Terry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Terry #177 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Terry #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Terry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Terry #301 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Terry #2263.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 1961–1972
Adam held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Terry in 2.
Highest recorded here: Adam #13 in 1972, Terry #63 in 1962.
The order changed in 1963: Adam moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #64 and #63; by 1963 that had become #59 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Adam #13, Terry #90.
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 | Terry |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (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); Terry does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam and Terry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Terry doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Terry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #60 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 recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1959 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys