Brendan vs Francis
Brendan and Franciscompared 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 2025, Brendan was ranked #1613 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Francis #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Francis #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
Brendan and Francis over time
Brendan and Francis appear together in 3 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Brendan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Francis 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.
Francis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Brendan 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 2023, Francis moved ahead of Brendan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #311 and #352 the year before became #395 and #200.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Francis changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #404 and #278.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Brendan and Francis averaged 54.8 places apart, ending at #404 and #278.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Francis were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1613 and #193.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Francis #188 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Francis in 6.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Francis #309.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Francis in 23.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Francis moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #198 and #212; by 2003 that had become #222 and #209.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #1613, Francis #193.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Francis in 11.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Francis #100 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Francis moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #311 and #352; by 2023 that had become #395 and #200.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Francis #278.
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 | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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) | England and Wales · Boys #193 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brendan and Francis 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 #1613 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls