Aidan vs Derek
Aidan and Derekcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Aidan was ranked #73 and Derek #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aidan was ranked #82 and Derek #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #155 and Derek #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aidan was ranked #255 and Derek #1108 among boys in England and Wales.
Aidan and Derek over time
Aidan and Derek appear together in 2 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Aidan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Derek 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.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Aidan moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1987 as Derek fell out of it to #56, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Aidan moved ahead of Derek in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #47 and #45 the year before became #47 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Aidan and Derek were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #82 and #432.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #37 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #82 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Aidan held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Derek in 23.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #33 in 1965, Derek #22 in 1972.
The order changed in 1987: Aidan moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #47 and #45; by 1987 that had become #47 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aidan #82, Derek #432.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aidan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Derek in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aidan #67 in 2002, Derek #464 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aidan #255, Derek #1108.
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 | Derek |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #82 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aidan and Derek both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #82 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Derek
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys