Andrew vs Billy
Andrew and Billycompared 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, Andrew was ranked #106 and Billy #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Billy #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Billy #127 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Billy #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Andrew and Billy over time
Andrew and Billy appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Billy in 1.
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.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Billy 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Billy moved ahead of Andrew in England and Wales · Boys — #75 and #84 the year before became #79 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Billy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #106 and #39.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Billy #68 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1970–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Billy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Billy #39 in 2025.
The order changed in 2020: Billy moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #68 and #75; by 2020 that had become #93 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Billy #39.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Billy in 21.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Billy #68 in 1998.
The order changed in 2004: Billy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #75 and #84; by 2004 that had become #79 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Billy #127.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Billy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #11 in 1998, Billy #169 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Billy #256.
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 | Andrew | Billy |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (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
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Billy does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew and Billy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Billy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Billy
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys