Adrian vs Rodney
Adrian and Rodneycompared 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 1983, Adrian was ranked #40 and Rodney #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1974, Adrian was ranked #70 and Rodney #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Adrian was ranked #93 and Rodney #301 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Rodney #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Adrian and Rodney over time
Adrian and Rodney appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 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.
Rodney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Adrian 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.
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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1977 as Rodney fell out of it to #55, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Adrian moved ahead of Rodney in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #42 and #39 the year before became #36 and #55.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Rodney changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1959 and 1974, ending at #70 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Rodney averaged 37.7 places apart, ending at #40 and #87.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Rodney were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #40 and #87.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #54 in 1969, Rodney #42 in 1967.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1983
Adrian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rodney in 23.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Rodney #17 in 1966.
The order changed in 1977: Adrian moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #42 and #39; by 1977 that had become #36 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Adrian #40, Rodney #87.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rodney in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Rodney #1055 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Rodney #2671.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1964–1995
Adrian held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rodney in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Rodney #135 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Adrian #93, Rodney #301.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1959–1974
Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Rodney in 9.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Rodney #42 in 1967.
The order changed in 1971: Adrian moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #75 and #73; by 1971 that had become #71 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Adrian #70, Rodney #99.
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 | Rodney |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (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); Rodney does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Rodney both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Rodney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Rodney
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #38 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 recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys