Carl vs Malachy
Carl and Malachycompared 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 2015, Carl was ranked #415 and Malachy #237 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Carl was ranked #770 and Malachy #436 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carl was ranked #2263 and Malachy #1132 among boys in England and Wales.
Carl and Malachy over time
Carl and Malachy appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Carl held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Malachy 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.
Malachy 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 Malachy changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #1132.
- Longest-running competitions
Carl and Malachy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #770 and #436.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Carl #130 in 1998, Malachy #179 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2023
Carl held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Malachy in 8.
Highest recorded here: Carl #102 in 1993, Malachy #123 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carl #770, Malachy #436.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Carl held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Malachy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Carl #116 in 1996, Malachy #401 in 2005.
The order changed in 2024: Malachy moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1407 and #1533; by 2024 that had become #2263 and #1132.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carl #2263, Malachy #1132.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2015
Carl held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Malachy in 5.
Highest recorded here: Carl #130 in 1998, Malachy #179 in 1997.
The order changed in 2012: Malachy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #267 and #303; by 2012 that had become #403 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Carl #415, Malachy #237.
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 | Malachy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #192 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carl has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Malachy.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Malachy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #129 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #123 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys