Adrian vs Francis
Adrian and Franciscompared 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 2025, Adrian was ranked #70 and Francis #316 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Adrian was ranked #90 and Francis #93 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Adrian was ranked #92 and Francis #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #279 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Adrian was ranked #249 and Francis #200 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Francis #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
Adrian and Francis over time
Adrian and Francis appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Francis held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Adrian in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Francis changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #279 and #193.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Adrian and Francis averaged 46.9 places apart, ending at #279 and #193.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Francis were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #279 and #193.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #153 in 1997, Francis #100 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Francis in 27.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Francis #309.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Francis in 21.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #279, Francis #193.
Norway · Boys25 shared years, 1960–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Francis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #13 in 2007, Francis #316 in 2025.
The order changed in 1962: Adrian moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #469 and #442; by 1962 that had become #348 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #70, Francis #316.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2023
Adrian held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Francis in 18.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Francis #100 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adrian #249, Francis #200.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1952–1961
Adrian held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Francis in 7.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #81 in 1953, Francis #71 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Adrian #92, Francis #93.
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 | Adrian | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/ | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #193 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Francis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Adrian
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #87 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 recorded1958–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #279 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls