Barry vs Lance
Barry and Lancecompared 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 1961, Barry was ranked #45 and Lance #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Lance #65 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Barry was ranked #141 and Lance #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Lance #1595 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Lance over time
Barry and Lance appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Lance 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 1972, Lance moved ahead of Barry in New Zealand · Boys — #68 and #94 the year before became #73 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barry and Lance changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3254 and #1595.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Lance #513 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lance in 20.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Lance #513 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Lance moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #815 and #875; by 2005 that had become #1617 and #691.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Lance #1595.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Lance in 1.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Lance #60 in 1963.
The order changed in 1972: Lance moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #68 and #94; by 1972 that had become #73 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Lance #65.
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 | Lance |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1595 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barry and Lance both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Lance
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #94 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #43 among boys in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys