Andrew vs William
Andrew and Williamcompared 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 William #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and William #4 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and William #5 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Andrew and William over time
Andrew and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 301 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Andrew in 2.
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.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, William 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 2007, William moved ahead of Andrew in Northern Ireland · Boys — #30 and #33 the year before became #33 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and William changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2021, ending at #458 and #5.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and William averaged 32.0 places apart, ending at #89 and #2.
- Mirrored each other
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, William rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #12 in 1952 to #89 and #2 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 63 years, from 1952 to 2016, ending at #89 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #5 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #29 and #21 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #315 and #27.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys63 shared years, 1952–2016
Andrew held the stronger position in 37 of those years, William in 26.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, William #2.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 23 of those years, William in 39.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, William #73.
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1946–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 13 of those years, William in 48.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, William #5.
New Zealand · Boys58 shared years, 1954–2013
Andrew held the stronger position in 34 of those years, William in 24.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, William #4.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 10 of those years, William in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: William moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #30 and #33; by 2007 that had become #33 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, William #64.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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 William is recorded with a Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) origin.
- Andrew and William both have 2 syllables.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from William'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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys