Charley vs Gerard
Charley and Gerardcompared 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 2012, Charley was ranked #273 and Gerard #138 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Charley was ranked #749 and Gerard #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Charley was ranked #2443 and Gerard #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Charley and Gerard over time
Charley and Gerard appear together in 3 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Gerard held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Charley in 1.
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.
Gerard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Charley 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
Charley and Gerard changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2443 and #1675.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Charley #263 in 1998, Gerard #462 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Charley held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Gerard in 5.
Highest recorded here: Charley #263 in 1998, Gerard #462 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Gerard moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1469 and #1534; by 2023 that had become #2160 and #1461.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charley #2443, Gerard #1675.
Republic of Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1989–2018
Charley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gerard in 13.
Highest recorded here: Charley #307 in 1989, Gerard #35 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Charley #749, Gerard #262.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2000–2012
Charley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gerard in 9.
Highest recorded here: Charley #232 in 2008, Gerard #100 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Charley #273, Gerard #138.
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 | Charley | Gerard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gerard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Charley does not have one recorded yet.
- Charley and Gerard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gerard; Charley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Charley
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #115 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys