Andrew vs Sylvester
Andrew and Sylvestercompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1992, Andrew was ranked #16 and Sylvester #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Sylvester #2443 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Sylvester over time
Andrew and Sylvester appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sylvester in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Andrew rose about as far as Sylvester fell — from #34 and #181 in 1964 to #16 and #298 in 1992.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Sylvester in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Sylvester #1290 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Sylvester #2443.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1964–1992
Andrew held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sylvester in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Sylvester #148 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Andrew #16, Sylvester #298.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Andrew
Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Andrew vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #106 and #785.
Andrew · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #509.
Andrew · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #432.
Andrew · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #23 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #315.
Oliver · Andrew · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Andrew | Sylvester |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2443 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Sylvester does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sylvester.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Sylvester doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, 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
Sylvester
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 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 recorded1964–1992
Highest recorded position: #148 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–1992).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys