Barry vs Neil
Barry and Neilcompared 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 Neil #86 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Neil #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Neil #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Neil #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Neil #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Neil over time
Barry and Neil appear together in 5 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Neil held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barry in 2.
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 2 of those lists, Neil 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, Neil moved ahead of Barry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #35 and #37 the year before became #40 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barry and Neil changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1972, ending at #73 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Neil averaged 8.2 places apart, ending at #97 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and Neil were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #372.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Neil in 10.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Neil #55 in 1978.
The order changed in 2021: Neil moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #459 and #496; by 2021 that had become #454 and #414.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Neil #372.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Neil in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Neil #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Neil in 15.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Neil #32 in 1955.
The order changed in 1958: Neil moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #35 and #37; by 1958 that had become #40 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Neil #81.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Neil in 5.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Neil #30 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Neil #86.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Neil in 10.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Neil #84 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Neil #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 | Neil |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barry has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Neil.
- 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys