Adrian vs Piaras
Adrian and Piarascompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Adrian was ranked #196 and Piaras #448 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Adrian was ranked #304 and Piaras #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Adrian and Piaras over time
Adrian and Piaras appear together in 2 published lists, across 19 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Piaras in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Piaras changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2020, ending at #304 and #392.
List by list
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2020
Adrian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Piaras in 3.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Piaras #210 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Adrian #304, Piaras #392.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1966–2005
Adrian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Piaras in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #50 in 1972, Piaras #256 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Adrian #196, Piaras #448.
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 | Piaras |
|---|---|---|
| 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-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #392 (2020) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Piaras does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Piaras both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Piaras doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, 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
Piaras
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #256 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2020
Highest recorded position: #210 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1997–2020).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #392 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2020.
Northern Ireland · Boys