Adrian vs Glen
Adrian and Glencompared 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 1998, Adrian was ranked #21 and Glen #558 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Adrian was ranked #49 and Glen #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Adrian was ranked #94 and Glen #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Adrian was ranked #167 and Glen #378 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Glen #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Glen #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Glen #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Adrian and Glen over time
Adrian and Glen appear together in 6 published lists, across 176 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Glen in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Glen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Adrian in 2. 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 1981, Glen moved ahead of Adrian in New Zealand · Boys — #68 and #72 the year before became #83 and #62.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Glen changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1963 and 1985, ending at #94 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Glen averaged 24.0 places apart, ending at #49 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Glen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #49 and #91.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #153 in 1997, Glen #129 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Glen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Glen #83 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Glen #676.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1952–1986
Adrian held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Glen in 18.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Glen #32 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #49, Glen #91.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Glen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Glen #281 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Glen #3688.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1963–1985
Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Glen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Glen #29 in 1975.
The order changed in 1981: Glen moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #68 and #72; by 1981 that had become #83 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Adrian #94, Glen #86.
Norway · Boys23 shared years, 1962–1998
Adrian held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Glen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #21 in 1998, Glen #331 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Adrian #21, Glen #558.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2008
Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Glen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Glen #129 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Adrian moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #307 and #307; by 2006 that had become #207 and #257.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Adrian #167, Glen #378.
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 | Glen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Glen does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Glen.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Glen 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 #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys