Barry vs William
Barry and Williamcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and William #29 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and William #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and William #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Barry and William over time
Barry and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barry in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Barry 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and William averaged 27.1 places apart, ending at #97 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Barry and William were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #73.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Barry #30 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Barry held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 61.
Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 28.
Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, William #27.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, William #51.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, William #67.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 19.
Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, William #29.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪljəm/ | |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (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
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
- Barry and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; 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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys