Barry vs Gerald
Barry and Geraldcompared 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 1957, Barry was ranked #24 and Gerald #97 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2011, Barry was ranked #261 and Gerald #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Barry was ranked #584 and Gerald #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Gerald #1859 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Gerald over time
Barry and Gerald appear together in 2 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Barry held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gerald in 0.
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.
Gerald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Barry 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1967, Barry moved ahead of Gerald in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #67 and #64 the year before became #67 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barry and Gerald changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3254 and #1859.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Gerald were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #584 and #770.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Gerald #680 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2023
Barry held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Gerald in 3.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Gerald #57 in 1964.
The order changed in 1967: Barry moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #67 and #64; by 1967 that had become #67 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barry #584, Gerald #770.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Gerald in 10.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Gerald #680 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Gerald moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #2301 and #2493; by 2022 that had become #4001 and #2165.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Gerald #1859.
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 | Gerald |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1859 (2024) |
| 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 Gerald both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Gerald
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #90 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1859 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys