Caleb vs Dylan
Caleb and Dylancompared 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 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Dylan #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2020, Caleb was ranked #42 and Dylan #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Dylan #104 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Dylan #64 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Dylan #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2020, Caleb was ranked #91 and Dylan #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Caleb and Dylan over time
Caleb and Dylan appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caleb in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dylan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2016, Caleb moved ahead of Dylan in New Zealand · Boys — #51 and #50 the year before became #63 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Dylan changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1982 and 2020, ending at #42 and #80.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Caleb and Dylan averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #91 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Dylan were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 39 years, from 1982 to 2020, ending at #42 and #80.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1982–2020
Caleb held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Dylan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #12 in 1999, Dylan #7 in 1992.
The order changed in 2016: Caleb moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #51 and #50; by 2016 that had become #63 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Caleb #42, Dylan #80.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dylan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Dylan #7 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Dylan #69.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dylan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Dylan #16 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Dylan #64.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Dylan in 18.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Dylan #7 in 2001.
The order changed in 2015: Caleb moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #34 and #25; by 2015 that had become #25 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Dylan #154.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2020
Caleb held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Dylan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #51 in 2001, Dylan #12 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Caleb #91, Dylan #93.
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 | Dylan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdɪlən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb and Dylan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Caleb doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys