Billy vs Craig
Billy and Craigcompared 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 2023, Billy was ranked #55 and Craig #516 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #127 and Craig #2263 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Billy was ranked #169 and Craig #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #234 and Craig #478 among boys in Scotland.
Billy and Craig over time
Billy and Craig appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Craig 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.
Craig 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 Craig in Northern Ireland · Boys — #255 and #199 the year before became #187 and #378.
- Mirrored each other
Over 42 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Billy rose about as far as Craig fell — from #305 and #235 in 1970 to #55 and #516 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Billy and Craig were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1970 to 2023, ending at #55 and #516.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Billy #68 in 1998, Craig #81 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #81 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #127 and #2263.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2023
Billy held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Craig in 27.
Highest recorded here: Billy #49 in 2022, Craig #39 in 1990.
The order changed in 2008: Billy moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #120 and #112; by 2008 that had become #98 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Billy #55, Craig #516.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Craig in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #68 in 1998, Craig #81 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #127, Craig #2263.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1998–2015
Billy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Craig in 10.
Highest recorded here: Billy #169 in 2015, Craig #77 in 1998.
The order changed in 2008: Billy moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #255 and #199; by 2008 that had become #187 and #378.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Billy #169, Craig #415.
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 | Craig |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #39 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Billy does not have one recorded yet.
- Billy has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Craig.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Billy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys