Barry vs Damian
Barry and Damiancompared 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 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Damian #89 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Damian #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Damian #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Damian #271 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Barry was ranked #365 and Damian #283 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Barry and Damian over time
Barry and Damian appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Barry held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Damian in 1.
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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barry and Damian changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #402 and #223.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Damian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #223.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Barry #90 in 1997, Damian #160 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Damian in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Damian #46 in 1969.
The order changed in 2016: Damian moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #257 and #274; by 2016 that had become #345 and #229.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Damian #223.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Damian in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Damian #261 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Damian #271.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1997–2018
Barry held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Damian in 6.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Damian #160 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Damian moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #266 and #378; by 2009 that had become #262 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Barry #365, Damian #283.
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 | Barry | Damian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barry and Damian both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Barry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Damian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys