Carl vs Colin
Carl and Colincompared 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 1975, Carl was ranked #55 and Colin #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Carl was ranked #192 and Colin #119 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Carl was ranked #403 and Colin #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Carl was ranked #770 and Colin #436 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carl was ranked #2263 and Colin #1000 among boys in England and Wales.
Carl and Colin over time
Carl and Colin appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Carl in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Carl in 2. 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 1970, Carl moved ahead of Colin in New Zealand · Boys — #55 and #53 the year before became #55 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carl and Colin changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #1000.
- Mirrored each other
Over 44 shared years in Norway · Boys, Colin rose about as far as Carl fell — from #123 and #326 in 1946 to #192 and #119 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Carl and Colin were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #192 and #119.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Carl #116 in 1996, Colin #311 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023
Carl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Colin in 54.
Highest recorded here: Carl #97 in 1989, Colin #38 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carl #770, Colin #436.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2025
Carl held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Colin in 5.
Highest recorded here: Carl #87 in 1979, Colin #119 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Colin moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #187 and #192; by 2021 that had become #208 and #164.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carl #192, Colin #119.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carl held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Colin in 8.
Highest recorded here: Carl #116 in 1996, Colin #311 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1407 and #1610; by 2024 that had become #2263 and #1000.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carl #2263, Colin #1000.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1959–1975
Carl held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Colin in 11.
Highest recorded here: Carl #49 in 1972, Colin #29 in 1959.
The order changed in 1970: Carl moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #55 and #53; by 1970 that had become #55 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Carl #55, Colin #99.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2012
Carl held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Colin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Carl #130 in 1998, Colin #96 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Carl #403, Colin #273.
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 | Carl | Colin |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #192 (2025) | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carl has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Colin.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Carl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #133 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1959–1992
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1959–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #192 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys