Adrian vs Graham
Adrian and Grahamcompared 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 1979, Adrian was ranked #44 and Graham #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Adrian was ranked #60 and Graham #74 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Adrian was ranked #165 and Graham #387 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Graham #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Adrian was ranked #268 and Graham #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Graham #727 among boys in Scotland.
Adrian and Graham over time
Adrian and Graham appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Graham 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.
Graham 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 1970, Adrian moved ahead of Graham in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #60 and #50 the year before became #55 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Graham changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #268 and #770.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Graham averaged 43.4 places apart, ending at #44 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Graham were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #268 and #770.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023
Adrian held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Graham in 16.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Graham #52 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adrian #268, Graham #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Graham in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Graham #341 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Graham #5119.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 1952–1979
Adrian held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Graham in 17.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Graham #20 in 1952.
The order changed in 1970: Adrian moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #60 and #50; by 1970 that had become #55 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Adrian #44, Graham #100.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1959–1972
Adrian held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Graham in 9.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Graham #30 in 1961.
The order changed in 1968: Adrian moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #65 and #54; by 1968 that had become #67 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Adrian #60, Graham #74.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1997–2010
Adrian held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Graham in 1.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Graham #137 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Adrian #165, Graham #387.
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 | Graham |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Graham does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Graham both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Graham doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys