Bentley vs Nicholas
Bentley and Nicholascompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Bentley was ranked #779 and Nicholas #154 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bentley was ranked #737 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bentley was ranked #404 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Bentley and Nicholas over time
Bentley and Nicholas appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bentley in 0.
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.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Bentley 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bentley and Nicholas changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2011 and 2024, ending at #404 and #305.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Bentley #232 in 2016, Nicholas #201 in 2015.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bentley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bentley #263 in 2013, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bentley #737, Nicholas #211.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2011–2024
Bentley held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nicholas in 6.
Highest recorded here: Bentley #232 in 2016, Nicholas #201 in 2015.
The order changed in 2017: Nicholas moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #232 and #281; by 2017 that had become #363 and #214.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bentley #404, Nicholas #305.
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 | Bentley | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Boys #404 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Bentley does not have one recorded yet.
- Bentley has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Bentley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bentley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2011–2024
Highest recorded position: #232 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 2011–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #737 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys