Andrew vs Charles
Andrew and Charlescompared 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 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Charles #59 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Charles #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Charles #160 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Charles #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Charles #119 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Charles #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2014, Andrew was ranked #518 and Charles #440 among boys in Norway.
Andrew and Charles over time
Andrew and Charles appear together in 6 published lists, across 260 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Charles in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 1998, Charles moved ahead of Andrew in England and Wales · Boys — #37 and #42 the year before became #42 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Charles changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #144.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 45 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Charles averaged 51.0 places apart, ending at #89 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Charles were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 45 years, from 1952 to 2016, ending at #89 and #78.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Charles #41 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Charles in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Charles #43 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Charles #188.
Norway · Boys49 shared years, 1946–2014
Andrew held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Charles in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Charles #179 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Andrew #518, Charles #440.
New Zealand · Boys47 shared years, 1954–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Charles in 6.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Charles #58 in 2008.
The order changed in 2006: Charles moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #50 and #70; by 2006 that had become #75 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Charles #59.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys45 shared years, 1952–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Charles in 3.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Charles #57 in 1952.
The order changed in 2012: Charles moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #68 and #74; by 2012 that had become #80 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Charles #78.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Charles in 27.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Charles #41 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Charles moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #37 and #42; by 1998 that had become #42 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Charles #119.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Charles in 2.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Charles #75 in 2000.
The order changed in 2024: Charles moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #139 and #200; by 2024 that had become #216 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Charles #144.
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 | Charles |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #94 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Charles does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew and Charles both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Charles 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
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
Charles
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #224 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys