Bobby vs Ruadhan
Bobby and Ruadhancompared 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, Bobby was ranked #30 and Ruadhan #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #78 and Ruadhan #81 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Bobby was ranked #94 and Ruadhan #2664 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bobby was ranked #246 and Ruadhan #535 among boys in Scotland.
Bobby and Ruadhan over time
Bobby and Ruadhan appear together in 3 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Bobby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ruadhan 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.
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
Bobby and Ruadhan changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1991 and 2025, ending at #30 and #676.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Bobby rose about as far as Ruadhan fell — from #324 and #288 in 1991 to #30 and #676 in 2025.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bobby #65 in 2017, Ruadhan #2512 in 2017.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1991–2025
Bobby held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Ruadhan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #27 in 2020, Ruadhan #169 in 2017.
The order changed in 2002: Bobby moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #390 and #274; by 2002 that had become #235 and #267.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bobby #30, Ruadhan #676.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2004–2024
Bobby held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ruadhan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #59 in 2013, Ruadhan #81 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bobby #78, Ruadhan #81.
England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 2005–2025
Bobby held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ruadhan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bobby #65 in 2017, Ruadhan #2512 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bobby #94, Ruadhan #2664.
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 | Bobby | Ruadhan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #30 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bobby and Ruadhan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Bobby
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3035 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Ruadhan
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #320 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #81 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2664 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys