Andrew vs Neil
Andrew and Neilcompared 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 1979, Andrew was ranked #4 and Neil #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Andrew was ranked #6 and Neil #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Neil #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Andrew was ranked #177 and Neil #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Neil #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Neil over time
Andrew and Neil appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Neil 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.
Neil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1956, Andrew moved ahead of Neil in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #42 and #32 the year before became #36 and #37.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Neil averaged 48.3 places apart, ending at #6 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew rose about as far as Neil fell — from #51 and #42 in 1952 to #6 and #98 in 1985.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Neil were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #6 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Neil in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Neil #55 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Neil #372.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1985
Andrew held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Neil in 4.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Neil #32 in 1955.
The order changed in 1956: Andrew moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #42 and #32; by 1956 that had become #36 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Andrew #6, Neil #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Neil in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Neil #968.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1979
Andrew held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Neil in 2.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1978, Neil #30 in 1956.
The order changed in 1956: Andrew moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #40 and #32; by 1956 that had become #28 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Andrew #4, Neil #90.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2022
Andrew held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Neil in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Neil #84 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Andrew #177, Neil #352.
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 | Neil |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Neil does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Neil.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Neil doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys