Brendan vs Sylvester
Brendan and Sylvestercompared 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 1992, Brendan was ranked #52 and Sylvester #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #1613 and Sylvester #2664 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Sylvester over time
Brendan and Sylvester appear together in 2 published lists, across 48 years of shared records. Brendan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sylvester in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Brendan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sylvester 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Sylvester changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1613 and #2664.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #16 in 1965, Sylvester #148 in 1965.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sylvester in 2.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #161 in 1997, Sylvester #1290 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #1613, Sylvester #2664.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1964–1992
Brendan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sylvester in 0.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Sylvester #148 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Brendan #52, Sylvester #298.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Brendan
Pairs where Brendan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oisin vs Brendan
In 1997 they stood at #81 and #73 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #9 and #404.
Oisin · Brendan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #45 and #402.
David · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Brendan vs Shea
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #51.
Brendan · Shea · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Brendan | Sylvester |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2664 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brendan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sylvester.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
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
Sylvester
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 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 recorded1964–1992
Highest recorded position: #148 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–1992).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2664 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys