Billy vs Dean
Billy and Deancompared 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 Dean #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #127 and Dean #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Billy was ranked #232 and Dean #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Billy was ranked #234 and Dean #727 among boys in Scotland.
Billy and Dean over time
Billy and Dean appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Dean 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.
Dean 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 2015, Billy moved ahead of Dean in Northern Ireland · Boys — #228 and #228 the year before became #169 and #415.
- Longest-running competitions
Billy and Dean were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #39 and #432.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Billy #68 in 1998, Dean #80 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #80 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #127 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1970–2025
Billy held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Dean in 30.
Highest recorded here: Billy #39 in 2025, Dean #24 in 1993.
The order changed in 2011: Billy moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #122 and #105; by 2011 that had become #101 and #128.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Billy #39, Dean #432.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Billy held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Dean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Billy #68 in 1998, Dean #80 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Billy #127, Dean #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1998–2023
Billy held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Dean in 15.
Highest recorded here: Billy #169 in 2015, Dean #51 in 1998.
The order changed in 2015: Billy moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #228 and #228; by 2015 that had become #169 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Billy #232, Dean #348.
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 | Dean |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (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
- Billy has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Dean.
- 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
Dean
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1991
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1956–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys