Aidan vs Bernard
Aidan and Bernardcompared 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 2025, Aidan was ranked #82 and Bernard #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #136 and Bernard #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Aidan was ranked #265 and Bernard #782 among boys in England and Wales.
Aidan and Bernard over time
Aidan and Bernard appear together in 3 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Aidan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bernard in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bernard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Aidan 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 1970, Aidan moved ahead of Bernard in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #41 and #38 the year before became #35 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aidan and Bernard changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #82 and #509.
- Longest-running competitions
Aidan and Bernard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #265 and #782.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Aidan #33 in 1965, Bernard #33 in 1964.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #37 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #82 and #509.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Aidan held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Bernard in 3.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #33 in 1965, Bernard #33 in 1964.
The order changed in 1970: Aidan moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #41 and #38; by 1970 that had become #35 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aidan #82, Bernard #509.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Aidan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #67 in 2002, Bernard #613 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aidan #265, Bernard #782.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Bernard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #43 in 2012, Bernard #163 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #136, Bernard #339.
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 | Aidan | Bernard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #82 (2025) | Norway · Boys #277 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aidan and Bernard both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Aidan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #37 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #265 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Bernard
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #84 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #782 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys