Brendan vs Edward
Brendan and Edwardcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Edward #31 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Brendan was ranked #94 and Edward #67 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2004, Brendan was ranked #92 and Edward #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Edward #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Edward #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Edward #181 among boys in Scotland.
Brendan and Edward over time
Brendan and Edward appear together in 5 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Edward held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brendan in 2.
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.
Brendan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Edward 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 2011, Edward moved ahead of Brendan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #158 and #173 the year before became #191 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Edward changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 1991, ending at #94 and #67.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Edward averaged 32.3 places apart, ending at #92 and #77.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Edward were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 39 years, from 1965 to 2004, ending at #92 and #77.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #53 in 1982, Edward #56 in 1984.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #17 and #18 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #125.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Edward in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Edward #17 in 1965.
The order changed in 2004: Edward moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #81 and #86; by 2004 that had become #104 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Edward #125.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys39 shared years, 1965–2004
Brendan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Edward in 6.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Edward #68 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Brendan #92, Edward #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Edward in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Edward #23 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Edward #31.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Edward in 16.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Edward #104 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Edward moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #158 and #173; by 2011 that had become #191 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Edward #177.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1966–1991
Brendan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Edward in 19.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #53 in 1982, Edward #56 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Brendan #94, Edward #67.
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 | Brendan | Edward |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brendan and Edward both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys