Barry vs Gary
Barry and Garycompared 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 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Gary #58 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Gary #66 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Gary #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #582 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Gary over time
Barry and Gary appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barry in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Gary in none. 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 Gary changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #414 and #352.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Gary averaged 28.3 places apart, ending at #97 and #58.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Gary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #582 and #785.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Gary in 24.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Gary #25 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #582, Gary #785.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Gary #2671.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Gary #8 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Gary #58.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 19.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Gary #19 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Gary #66.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gary in 15.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Gary #57 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Gary #352.
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 | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys