Colin vs Damien
Colin and Damiencompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Damien #61 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Colin was ranked #398 and Damien #315 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Damien #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Damien #747 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Damien over time
Colin and Damien appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Damien 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Damien moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #51 and #63 the year before became #58 and #56.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Damien changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2014, ending at #398 and #315.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Damien were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #348 and #468.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Colin #96 in 1997, Damien #134 in 1999.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Damien in 22.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Damien #34 in 1982.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #436 and #362; by 2024 that had become #302 and #520.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Damien #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Damien in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Damien #280 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Damien #747.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2014
Colin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Damien in 3.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Damien #134 in 1999.
The order changed in 2013: Damien moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #273 and #403; by 2013 that had become #398 and #398.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Colin #398, Damien #315.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1969–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Damien in 13.
Highest recorded here: Colin #48 in 1969, Damien #34 in 1974.
The order changed in 1971: Damien moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #51 and #63; by 1971 that had become #58 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Damien #61.
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 | Colin | Damien |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #468 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin and Damien both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Damien
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #75 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 recorded1969–1993
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1969–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys