Brian vs Graeme
Brian and Graeme compared 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 1972, Brian was ranked #56 and Graeme #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Brian was ranked #67 and Graeme #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Brian was ranked #92 and Graeme #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Brian was ranked #99 and Graeme #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Brian was ranked #500 and Graeme #4107 among boys in England and Wales.
Brian and Graeme over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Brian and Graeme over time
Brian and Graeme appear together in 4 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Brian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Graeme in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Brian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Graeme 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brian and Graeme averaged 24.3 places apart, ending at #56 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Brian and Graeme were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1968 to 2013, ending at #92 and #711.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brian #251 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1968–2013
Brian held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Brian #7 in 1977, Graeme #152 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Brian #92, Graeme #711.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Brian held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Brian #13 in 1952, Graeme #33 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Brian #56, Graeme #96.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Brian held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Graeme in 2.
Highest recorded here: Brian #10 in 1954, Graeme #18 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Brian #67, Graeme #86.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2023
Brian held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Brian #251 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Brian #500, Graeme #4107.
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 Brian
Pairs where Brian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Brian vs Kevin
Brian and Kevin changed places 15 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1984, ending at #96 and #70.
Brian · Kevin · 33 shared years, 1952–1984 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Brian vs Niall
Brian and Niall changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #252 and #244.
Brian · Niall · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Brian vs Brendan
Brian and Brendan changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #256 and #404.
Brian · Brendan · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Brian vs Geoffrey
Brian and Geoffrey changed places 13 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #98 and #95.
Brian · Geoffrey · 32 shared years, 1952–1983 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Graeme
Pairs where Graeme shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Graeme
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — John #1 in 1952, Graeme #33 in 1952.
John · Graeme · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Peter vs Graeme
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Peter #1 in 1954, Graeme #33 in 1952.
Peter · Graeme · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Murray vs Graeme
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Murray and Graeme averaged 4.0 places apart, ending at #100 and #91.
Murray · Graeme · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Barry vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Ross averaged 4.0 places apart, ending at #97 and #93.
Barry · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1973 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Brian | Graeme |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The meaning is explicitly uncertain; possibly connected to Celtic concepts of 'high, hill' or 'might, power' — no single settled meaning. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Irish / Celtic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbraɪən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #252 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brian has a recorded origin (Old Irish / Celtic); Graeme does not have one recorded yet.
- Brian has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Graeme.
- A meaning is recorded for Brian; Graeme doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #296 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #573 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Graeme
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #33 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 recorded1954–1975
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys