Namewise

Adrian vs Jeffrey

Adrian and Jeffreycompared 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 1986, Adrian was ranked #49 and Jeffrey #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1984, Adrian was ranked #78 and Jeffrey #97 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 1997, Adrian was ranked #153 and Jeffrey #248 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Jeffrey #1595 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Adrian was ranked #268 and Jeffrey #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Adrian and Jeffrey over time

Adrian and Jeffrey appear together in 4 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Jeffrey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1971, Adrian moved ahead of Jeffrey in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #55 and #46 the year before became #43 and #50.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Adrian and Jeffrey changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1959 and 1984, ending at #78 and #97.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Jeffrey averaged 34.4 places apart, ending at #49 and #84.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Adrian and Jeffrey were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #49 and #84.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #41 in 1975, Jeffrey #120 in 1976.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 19642023

    Adrian held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Jeffrey in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Jeffrey #120 in 1976.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Adrian #268, Jeffrey #770.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 19521986

    Adrian held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jeffrey in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Jeffrey #30 in 1962.

    The order changed in 1971: Adrian moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #55 and #46; by 1971 that had become #43 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #49, Jeffrey #84.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Adrian held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jeffrey in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Jeffrey #476 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Jeffrey #1595.

  • New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 19591984

    Adrian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jeffrey in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Jeffrey #49 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1980: Adrian moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #83 and #74; by 1980 that had become #68 and #95.

    Most recent shared year, 1984: Adrian #78, Jeffrey #97.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Adrian, Jeffrey
FieldAdrianJeffrey
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #70 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #1595 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Jeffrey does not have one recorded yet.
  • Adrian and Jeffrey both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Jeffrey 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

Adrian

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1958–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Jeffrey

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #39 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1986

    Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys