Andrew vs Thomas
Andrew and Thomascompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Thomas #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Thomas #10 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Thomas #11 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Thomas #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Thomas #20 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Thomas #26 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Thomas #131 among boys in Norway.
Andrew and Thomas over time
Andrew and Thomas appear together in 6 published lists, across 301 years of shared records. Thomas held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrew in 2.
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 5 of those lists, Thomas 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 1990, Thomas moved ahead of Andrew in New Zealand · Boys — #10 and #11 the year before became #12 and #9.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Thomas averaged 37.0 places apart, ending at #89 and #8.
- Mirrored each other
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #44 in 1952 to #89 and #8 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Thomas were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 63 years, from 1952 to 2016, ending at #89 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Thomas #2 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #5 and #15 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #216 and #11.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys63 shared years, 1952–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Thomas in 24.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Thomas #3 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Thomas #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 62.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Thomas #5 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Thomas #16.
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1946–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 61.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Thomas #1 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Thomas #131.
New Zealand · Boys58 shared years, 1954–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Thomas in 22.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Thomas #4 in 2001.
The order changed in 1990: Thomas moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #10 and #11; by 1990 that had become #12 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Thomas #10.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Thomas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Thomas #2 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Thomas #26.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Thomas in 26.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Thomas #6 in 2020.
The order changed in 1999: Thomas moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #11 and #14; by 1999 that had become #14 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Thomas #11.
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 | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning 'twin'. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Aramaic, via Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈtɑməs/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Thomas is recorded with a Aramaic, via Greek origin.
- Andrew and Thomas both have 2 syllables.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Thomas's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Thomas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #177 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1974 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys