Adrian vs Karson
Adrian and Karsoncompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Karson #945 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Adrian was ranked #249 and Karson #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Karson #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Karson #352 among boys in Scotland.
Adrian and Karson over time
Adrian and Karson appear together in 2 published lists, across 34 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karson in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Adrian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Karson in none. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 2004–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Karson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Karson #610 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Karson #945.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2011–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Karson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #125 in 2011, Karson #436 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Karson #676.
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 | Karson |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| 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 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Karson does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Karson both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Karson doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Karson
Popularity journey
First recorded2004
First recorded at #2304 among boys in England and Wales in 2004 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2023
Highest recorded position: #304 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 2015–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys