Charles vs Francis
Charles and Franciscompared 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 1964, Charles was ranked #78 and Francis #93 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Charles was ranked #79 and Francis #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #119 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #144 and Francis #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Charles was ranked #160 and Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Charles was ranked #188 and Francis #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Charles was ranked #455 and Francis #316 among boys in Norway.
Charles and Francis over time
Charles and Francis appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Charles held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Francis in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2024, Charles moved ahead of Francis in Northern Ireland · Boys — #200 and #200 the year before became #144 and #278.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Charles and Francis changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #144 and #278.
- Longest-running competitions
Charles and Francis were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #188 and #309.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Charles #41 in 1998, Francis #188 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Charles held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Francis in 35.
Highest recorded here: Charles #43 in 1964, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Charles moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #287 and #267; by 2025 that had become #188 and #309.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charles #188, Francis #309.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Charles held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charles #41 in 1998, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charles #119, Francis #193.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Charles held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Francis in 3.
Highest recorded here: Charles #75 in 2000, Francis #100 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Charles moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #200 and #200; by 2024 that had become #144 and #278.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charles #144, Francis #278.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1960–2025
Charles held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Francis in 4.
Highest recorded here: Charles #197 in 1962, Francis #316 in 2025.
The order changed in 2024: Francis moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #376 and #414; by 2024 that had become #475 and #397.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charles #455, Francis #316.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961
Charles held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charles #57 in 1952, Francis #71 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Charles #79, Francis #93.
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 Francis
Pairs where Francis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #309.
Daniel · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Francis
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #16 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #309.
Thomas · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Adrian vs Francis
Adrian and Francis changed places 20 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #348 and #309.
Adrian · Francis · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Francis vs Noel
Francis and Noel changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #309 and #402.
Francis · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Charles | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #94 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Charles and Francis both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Charles
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #224 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys