Ashton vs Nicholas
Ashton and Nicholascompared 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 2011, Ashton was ranked #57 and Nicholas #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2022, Ashton was ranked #93 and Nicholas #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ashton was ranked #246 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ashton was ranked #509 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ashton was ranked #398 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ashton was ranked #305 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Ashton and Nicholas over time
Ashton and Nicholas appear together in 5 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ashton 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.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ashton 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ashton and Nicholas changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2004 and 2024, ending at #305 and #305.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Ashton #89 in 2007, Nicholas #149 in 2005.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ashton held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nicholas in 22.
Highest recorded here: Ashton #69 in 2009, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashton #398, Nicholas #211.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2003–2025
Ashton held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 23.
Highest recorded here: Ashton #221 in 2012, Nicholas #125 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashton #509, Nicholas #198.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 2004–2022
Ashton held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Nicholas in 13.
Highest recorded here: Ashton #46 in 2015, Nicholas #11 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ashton #93, Nicholas #84.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2004–2024
Ashton held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicholas in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ashton #89 in 2007, Nicholas #149 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashton #305, Nicholas #305.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 2004–2011
Ashton held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicholas in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ashton #41 in 2004, Nicholas #39 in 2004.
The order changed in 2007: Ashton moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #64 and #48; by 2007 that had become #41 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ashton #57, Nicholas #94.
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 | Ashton | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Ashton does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashton has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Ashton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashton
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2020
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 2004 (recorded 2004–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys