Adrian vs Simon
Adrian and Simoncompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1986, Adrian was ranked #86 and Simon #21 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #70 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Adrian was ranked #87 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Adrian was ranked #365 and Simon #416 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Adrian and Simon over time
Adrian and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 246 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Simon in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Adrian moved ahead of Simon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #69 and #61 the year before became #64 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Simon changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2018, ending at #365 and #416.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Simon averaged 17.5 places apart, ending at #87 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 42 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #87 and #94.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1958–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Simon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #3 in 2005, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 1993: Adrian moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #47 and #35; by 1993 that had become #37 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #70, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Simon in 26.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 2025: Simon moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #200 and #275; by 2025 that had become #348 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Simon #244.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys42 shared years, 1955–1997
Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Simon in 36.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1993: Adrian moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #69 and #61; by 1993 that had become #64 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Adrian #87, Simon #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Simon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Adrian moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #249 and #225; by 2007 that had become #207 and #252.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Simon #524.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1959–1986
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Simon in 28.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #86, Simon #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2018
Adrian held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Simon in 9.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order changed in 2017: Adrian moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #259 and #259; by 2017 that had become #250 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Adrian #365, Simon #416.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys