Bryan vs Denis
Bryan and Deniscompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1954, Bryan was ranked #74 and Denis #82 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bryan was ranked #372 and Denis #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bryan was ranked #305 and Denis #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bryan was ranked #486 and Denis #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Bryan and Denis over time
Bryan and Denis appear together in 3 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Denis held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bryan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bryan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Denis 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bryan and Denis changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #486 and #434.
- Longest-running competitions
Bryan and Denis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #372 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Bryan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Denis in 58.
Highest recorded here: Bryan #78 in 1985, Denis #21 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bryan #372, Denis #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bryan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Denis in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bryan #442 in 2005, Denis #262 in 2020.
The order changed in 2010: Denis moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #570 and #596; by 2010 that had become #625 and #470.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bryan #486, Denis #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1998–2024
Bryan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Denis in 4.
Highest recorded here: Bryan #182 in 1998, Denis #235 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bryan #305, Denis #305.
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 | Bryan | Denis |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bryan has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Denis.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bryan
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #74 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 recorded1954–1970
Highest recorded position: #64 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1970).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 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: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys