Brendan vs Gavin
Brendan and Gavincompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1988, Brendan was ranked #33 and Gavin #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1980, Brendan was ranked #70 and Gavin #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Brendan was ranked #213 and Gavin #270 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Gavin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Gavin #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Gavin over time
Brendan and Gavin appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Brendan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gavin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gavin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Brendan in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan moved into the top 50 at #41 in 1976 as Gavin fell out of it to #53, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Brendan moved ahead of Gavin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #49 the year before became #41 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Gavin changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2020, ending at #213 and #270.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Gavin averaged 26.5 places apart, ending at #33 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Gavin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Gavin #185 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Gavin in 31.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Gavin #32 in 1994.
The order changed in 2024: Gavin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #288 and #343; by 2024 that had become #394 and #350.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Gavin #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Gavin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Gavin #185 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Gavin moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1366 and #1469; by 2023 that had become #1701 and #1108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Gavin #898.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys24 shared years, 1965–1988
Brendan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gavin in 11.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Gavin #40 in 1973.
The order changed in 1976: Brendan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #57 and #49; by 1976 that had become #41 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Brendan #33, Gavin #92.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2020
Brendan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gavin in 4.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Gavin #66 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Brendan moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #219 and #200; by 2017 that had become #279 and #318.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Brendan #213, Gavin #270.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1966–1980
Brendan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gavin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #63 in 1974, Gavin #43 in 1972.
The order changed in 1980: Brendan moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #68 and #66; by 1980 that had become #70 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Brendan #70, Gavin #100.
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 | Gavin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brendan and Gavin both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Gavin
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #70 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1994 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys