Namewise

Andrew vs Niall

Andrew and Niallcompared 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.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Niall #246 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Niall #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Niall #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Niall #613 among boys in England and Wales.

Andrew and Niall over time

Andrew and Niall appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Niall in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 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 2024, Niall moved ahead of Andrew in Northern Ireland · Boys — #139 and #189 the year before became #216 and #144.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Andrew and Niall changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #144.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Andrew and Niall averaged 26.7 places apart, ending at #216 and #144.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrew and Niall were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #106 and #244.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 19642025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Niall in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Niall #16 in 1991.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Niall #244.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Niall in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Niall #106 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Niall #613.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 19972024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Niall in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Niall #26 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2024: Niall moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #139 and #189; by 2024 that had become #216 and #144.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Niall #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

Side-by-side comparison of Andrew, Niall
FieldAndrewNiall
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginGreek, biblicalNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæn.dɹuː/Not yet recorded
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
  • Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niall.
  • A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Niall doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Andrew

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–2013

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Niall

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #47 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys