Billy vs Colin
Billy and Colincompared 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 2025, Billy was ranked #39 and Colin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #127 and Colin #1000 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Billy was ranked #176 and Colin #433 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Billy and Colin over time
Billy and Colin appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Billy in 1.
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.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Billy 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 2008, Billy moved ahead of Colin in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #120 and #112 the year before became #98 and #105.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Billy and Colin changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1998 and 2021, ending at #176 and #433.
- Longest-running competitions
Billy and Colin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #39 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Billy #68 in 1998, Colin #311 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1970–2025
Billy held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Colin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Billy #39 in 2025, Colin #38 in 1985.
The order changed in 2008: Billy moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #120 and #112; by 2008 that had become #98 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Billy #39, Colin #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Colin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #68 in 1998, Colin #311 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #127, Colin #1000.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1998–2021
Billy held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Colin in 10.
Highest recorded here: Billy #176 in 2021, Colin #130 in 1998.
The order changed in 2013: Billy moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #311 and #273; by 2013 that had become #208 and #398.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Billy #176, Colin #433.
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 | Billy | Colin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (2025) | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) |
| 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
- Billy and Colin both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Billy
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1970–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #44 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys