Adrian vs Frank
Adrian and Frank compared 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 1967, Adrian was ranked #68 and Frank #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #70 and Frank #459 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #279 and Frank #186 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Adrian was ranked #249 and Frank #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Frank #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Frank #478 among boys in Scotland.
Adrian and Frank over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Adrian and Frank over time
Adrian and Frank appear together in 5 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Frank 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.
Frank reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Adrian 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 2014, Frank moved ahead of Adrian in England and Wales · Boys — #203 and #235 the year before became #237 and #197.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Frank changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #279 and #186.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Adrian and Frank averaged 46.7 places apart, ending at #279 and #186.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Frank were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #279 and #186.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #167 in 2008, Frank #223 in 2006.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1958–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Frank in 25.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #3 in 2005, Frank #22 in 1968.
The order changed in 1986: Adrian moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #100 and #71; by 1986 that had become #65 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #70, Frank #459.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Frank in 3.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Frank #139 in 1966.
The order changed in 2025: Frank moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #200 and #267; by 2025 that had become #348 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Frank #286.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Frank in 19.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Frank #155 in 2018.
The order changed in 2014: Frank moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #203 and #235; by 2014 that had become #237 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #279, Frank #186.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2003–2023
Adrian held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Frank in 4.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #167 in 2008, Frank #223 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adrian #249, Frank #348.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1952–1967
Adrian held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Frank in 8.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #68 in 1967, Frank #74 in 1959.
The order changed in 1965: Adrian moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #77 and #76; by 1965 that had become #73 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Adrian #68, Frank #86.
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 Adrian
Pairs where Adrian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Conor vs Adrian
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #65 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #348.
Conor · Adrian · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Adrian vs Erik
Over 65 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Erik fell — from #449 and #30 in 1958 to #70 and #64 in 2025.
Adrian · Erik · 65 shared years, 1958–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adrian vs Nils
Over 65 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Nils fell — from #449 and #27 in 1958 to #70 and #61 in 2025.
Adrian · Nils · 65 shared years, 1958–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Adrian
Over 65 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Peter fell — from #104 and #449 in 1958 to #174 and #70 in 2025.
Peter · Adrian · 65 shared years, 1958–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Frank
Pairs where Frank shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Terje vs Frank
Terje and Frank changed places 20 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #300 and #459.
Terje · Frank · 76 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Frank vs Egil
Frank and Egil changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #312.
Frank · Egil · 78 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Frank
Helge and Frank changed places 18 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #459.
Helge · Frank · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Adrian | Frank |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #186 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Frank does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Frank.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Frank 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
Frank
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #61 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Norway, in 1968 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys