Andrew vs Colum
Andrew and Columcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 1999, Andrew was ranked #47 and Colum #2425 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #60 and Colum #605 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Andrew was ranked #99 and Colum #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Andrew and Colum over time
Andrew and Colum appear together in 1 published list, across 49 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Colum in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Colum reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Andrew 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Colum were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 49 years, from 1964 to 2013, ending at #60 and #605.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 1964–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Colum in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Colum #115 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #60, Colum #605.
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 | Colum |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #605 (2013) |
| 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); Colum does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew and Colum both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Colum doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Colum
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #119 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 recorded1964–2013
Highest recorded position: #115 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2013).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2013
Most recently recorded at #605 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2013.
Republic of Ireland · Boys