Andrew vs Denis
Andrew and Deniscompared 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 1954, Andrew was ranked #41 and Denis #82 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1955, Andrew was ranked #42 and Denis #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Denis #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Denis #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Denis #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Denis #427 among boys in Norway.
Andrew and Denis over time
Andrew and Denis appear together in 4 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Denis in 0.
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, Denis in 1. 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 1973, Andrew moved ahead of Denis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #38 and #35 the year before became #38 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Denis changed places 17 times in Norway · Boys between 1970 and 2021, ending at #458 and #427.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Andrew and Denis averaged 58.8 places apart, ending at #106 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Denis were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 39 years, from 1970 to 2021, ending at #458 and #427.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #241 in 1983, Denis #249 in 1984.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Denis in 8.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Denis #21 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Andrew moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #38 and #35; by 1973 that had become #38 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Denis #232.
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1970–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Denis in 13.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #241 in 1983, Denis #249 in 1984.
The order changed in 2021: Denis moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #402 and #484; by 2021 that had become #458 and #427.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Denis #427.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Denis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Denis #262 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Denis #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1998–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Denis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #11 in 1998, Denis #231 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Denis #305.
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 | Denis |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (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); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew and Denis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Denis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys