Alasdair vs Gary
Alasdair and Garycompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alasdair was ranked #234 and Gary #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Alasdair was ranked #749 and Gary #471 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alasdair was ranked #1595 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Alasdair and Gary over time
Alasdair and Gary appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Alasdair 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alasdair #335 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alasdair held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gary in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alasdair #335 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Alasdair moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1448 and #1329; by 2022 that had become #1314 and #2018.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alasdair #1595, Gary #2671.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Gary
Pairs where Gary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gary vs Eoin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #105.
Gary · Eoin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Gary
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #84 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #150 and #785.
Shane · Gary · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Simon
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #91 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #275.
Gary · Simon · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #302.
Gary · Colin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Alasdair | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #234 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Alasdair does not have one recorded yet.
- Alasdair has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Gary.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Alasdair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Alasdair
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #324 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys