Namewise

Barry vs Graeme

Barry and Graemecompared 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 Graeme #80 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1972, Barry was ranked #100 and Graeme #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2001, Barry was ranked #162 and Graeme #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2013, Barry was ranked #352 and Graeme #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2017, Barry was ranked #3040 and Graeme #4812 among boys in England and Wales.

Barry and Graeme over time

Barry and Graeme appear together in 4 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1971, Barry moved ahead of Graeme in New Zealand · Boys — #66 and #59 the year before became #68 and #69.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Barry and Graeme changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1972, ending at #100 and #96.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Graeme averaged 4.8 places apart, ending at #100 and #96.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Barry and Graeme were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1968 to 2013, ending at #352 and #711.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 19682013

    Barry held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Graeme in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Graeme #152 in 1992.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Barry #352, Graeme #711.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 19521972

    Barry held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Graeme in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Graeme #33 in 1952.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #100, Graeme #96.

  • New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 19541972

    Barry held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Graeme in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Graeme #18 in 1954.

    The order changed in 1971: Barry moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #66 and #59; by 1971 that had become #68 and #69.

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Graeme #80.

  • England and Wales · Boys14 shared years, 19962017

    Barry held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Graeme in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Barry #3040, Graeme #4812.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Barry, Graeme
FieldBarryGraeme
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Official statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
OriginNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
PronunciationNot yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recordedNot yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Barry and Graeme 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Graeme

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #33 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1975

    Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1975).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2023

    Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.

    England and Wales · Boys