Caleb vs Tiernan
Caleb and Tiernancompared 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 Tiernan #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Tiernan #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Tiernan #2921 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Tiernan #115 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Tiernan over time
Caleb and Tiernan appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Caleb held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Tiernan in 1.
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.
Tiernan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 2009, Caleb moved ahead of Tiernan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #54 and #52 the year before became #51 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Tiernan changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1983 and 2025, ending at #108 and #115.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Caleb and Tiernan averaged 45.0 places apart, ending at #108 and #115.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Tiernan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #108 and #115.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #91 in 2024, Tiernan #84 in 2022.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Tiernan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Tiernan #84 in 2022.
The order changed in 2024: Caleb moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #142 and #115; by 2024 that had become #91 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Tiernan #115.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tiernan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Tiernan #697 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Tiernan #2921.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Tiernan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Tiernan #52 in 2008.
The order changed in 2009: Caleb moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #54 and #52; by 2009 that had become #51 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Tiernan #125.
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 | Tiernan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #108 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #115 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caleb and Tiernan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Tiernan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #52 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys