Caleb vs Dean
Caleb and Deancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Caleb was ranked #20 and Dean #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Dean #727 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Caleb was ranked #68 and Dean #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Caleb was ranked #68 and Dean #92 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Dean #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Dean #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Dean over time
Caleb and Dean appear together in 4 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Caleb held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dean in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Caleb 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Caleb moved ahead of Dean in England and Wales · Boys — #173 and #163 the year before became #158 and #176.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Dean were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #108 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Dean in 23.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Dean #27 in 1992.
The order changed in 2015: Caleb moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #164 and #157; by 2015 that had become #130 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Dean #432.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Dean in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Dean #80 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Caleb moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #173 and #163; by 2003 that had become #158 and #176.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Dean #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2023
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Dean in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Dean #45 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Caleb moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #113 and #113; by 2006 that had become #78 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caleb #20, Dean #348.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1982–1991
Caleb held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Dean in 5.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #50 in 1986, Dean #60 in 1983.
The order changed in 1989: Caleb moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #88 and #79; by 1989 that had become #68 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Caleb #68, Dean #92.
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 | Caleb | Dean |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caleb has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Dean.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Dean
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1991
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1956–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys