Brenton vs Darren
Brenton and Darrencompared 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 1985, Brenton was ranked #99 and Darren #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2022, Brenton was ranked #4789 and Darren #993 among boys in England and Wales.
Brenton and Darren over time
Brenton and Darren appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Brenton in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Brenton 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 1996–2022
Brenton held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Darren in 10.
Highest recorded here: Brenton #1949 in 2001, Darren #123 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Brenton #4789, Darren #993.
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 Darren
Pairs where Darren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Darren vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #52 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #25.
Darren · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #53 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #33 and #404.
Rory · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #38 and #404.
Alexander · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Brenton | Darren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4789 (2022) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Brenton does not have one recorded yet.
- Brenton and Darren both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Brenton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW.
How each name got here
Brenton
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #66 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1984–1985
Highest recorded position: #66 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1984 (recorded 1984–1985).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2022
Most recently recorded at #4789 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022.
England and Wales · Boys
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys