Barry vs Dennis
Barry and Denniscompared 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 1965, Barry was ranked #46 and Dennis #98 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1970, Barry was ranked #82 and Dennis #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Barry was ranked #358 and Dennis #421 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #3684 and Dennis #478 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #582 and Dennis #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Barry and Dennis over time
Barry and Dennis appear together in 4 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Barry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dennis in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Dennis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Barry 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
Barry and Dennis changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #582 and #655.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Dennis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 56 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #582 and #655.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Barry #30 in 1952, Dennis #34 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Dennis in 1.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Dennis #170 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #582, Dennis #655.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dennis in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Dennis #316 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #3684, Dennis #478.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1952–1970
Barry held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Dennis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Dennis #34 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Barry #82, Dennis #100.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1954–1965
Barry held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Dennis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Dennis #46 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Barry #46, Dennis #98.
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 Barry
Pairs where Barry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gregory vs Barry
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #69 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #402.
Gregory · Barry · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2022 they were #6 and #414.
Oliver · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oisin vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #81 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #7 and #414.
Oisin · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #8 and #414.
Harry · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Barry | Dennis |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Norway · Boys #156 (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 Dennis 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 #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Dennis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 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 recorded1952–1970
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1970).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys