Blair vs Hamish
Blair and Hamishcompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Blair was ranked #92 and Hamish #34 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Blair was ranked #59 and Hamish #70 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Blair was ranked #395 and Hamish #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Blair was ranked #1758 and Hamish #422 among boys in England and Wales.
Blair and Hamish over time
Blair and Hamish appear together in 2 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Hamish held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Blair in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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
Blair and Hamish changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1968 and 1996, ending at #92 and #34.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Blair and Hamish averaged 18.3 places apart, ending at #92 and #34.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Blair #678 in 1997, Hamish #222 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Blair held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hamish in 28.
Highest recorded here: Blair #678 in 1997, Hamish #222 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blair #1758, Hamish #422.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1968–1996
Blair held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Hamish in 24.
Highest recorded here: Blair #41 in 1979, Hamish #30 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Blair #92, Hamish #34.
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 | Blair | Hamish |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seumas, James |
| Recorded regional usage | 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 · Girls #325 (2025) | Scotland #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Hamish has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Blair does not have one recorded yet.
- Blair has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Hamish.
- A meaning is recorded for Hamish; Blair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Blair a "medium" Data Confidence level and Hamish a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Blair
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #88 among boys in New Zealand in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1968–1996
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 1979 (recorded 1968–1996).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Hamish
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).
Scotland
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 in Scotland, in 2025.
Scotland