Cathair vs Darren
Cathair and Darrencompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Cathair was ranked #390 and Darren #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Cathair was ranked #239 and Darren #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Cathair and Darren over time
Cathair and Darren appear together in 1 published list, across 23 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Cathair in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Cathair 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cathair and Darren changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1998 and 2024, ending at #239 and #404.
List by list
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1998–2024
Cathair held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Darren in 15.
Highest recorded here: Cathair #164 in 2004, Darren #56 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Cathair moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #395 and #395; by 2024 that had become #239 and #404.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cathair #239, Darren #404.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Darren
Pairs where Darren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Darren vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #52 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #25.
Darren · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #53 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #33 and #404.
Rory · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #38 and #404.
Alexander · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Cathair | Darren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Boys #239 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Cathair does not have one recorded yet.
- Cathair and Darren both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Cathair doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Cathair
Popularity journey
First recorded1998
First recorded at #207 among boys in Northern Ireland in 1998 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Northern Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2024
Highest recorded position: #164 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1998–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #239 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Boys
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys