Barry vs Gregory
Barry and Gregorycompared 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 Gregory #24 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Gregory #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Barry was ranked #311 and Gregory #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Gregory #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Gregory #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Gregory over time
Barry and Gregory appear together in 4 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barry in 1.
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.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Gregory 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1958, Gregory moved ahead of Barry in New Zealand · Boys — #24 and #30 the year before became #33 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Gregory averaged 42.0 places apart, ending at #97 and #26.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Gregory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #69 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #829.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Gregory in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Gregory #72 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Gregory #829.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Gregory #1460.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Gregory #7 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Gregory #26.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gregory in 15.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Gregory #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1958: Gregory moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #24 and #30; by 1958 that had become #33 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Gregory #24.
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 | Gregory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; 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
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys