Carl vs Gareth
Carl and Garethcompared 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 1989, Carl was ranked #96 and Gareth #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Carl was ranked #403 and Gareth #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Carl was ranked #428 and Gareth #382 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carl was ranked #2263 and Gareth #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Carl and Gareth over time
Carl and Gareth appear together in 4 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Gareth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Carl 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
Carl and Gareth changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1971 and 1989, ending at #96 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Carl and Gareth averaged 36.2 places apart, ending at #428 and #382.
- Longest-running competitions
Carl and Gareth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 50 years, from 1964 to 2014, ending at #428 and #382.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Carl #116 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys50 shared years, 1964–2014
Carl held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Gareth in 33.
Highest recorded here: Carl #97 in 1989, Gareth #42 in 1980.
The order changed in 2013: Gareth moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #336 and #379; by 2013 that had become #534 and #448.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Carl #428, Gareth #382.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carl held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Gareth in 2.
Highest recorded here: Carl #116 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Gareth moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1407 and #2007; by 2024 that had become #2263 and #2088.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carl #2263, Gareth #2088.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–1989
Carl held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Gareth in 9.
Highest recorded here: Carl #41 in 1981, Gareth #30 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Carl #96, Gareth #93.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2012
Carl held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Gareth in 11.
Highest recorded here: Carl #130 in 1998, Gareth #47 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Carl #403, Gareth #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 | Gareth |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #192 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carl has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Gareth.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Gareth
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 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 recorded1971–1989
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1971–1989).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys