Colin vs Elias
Colin and Eliascompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Elias #4 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #1538 and Elias #69 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Elias #185 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Elias #266 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Colin and Elias over time
Colin and Elias appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Elias held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Colin in 1.
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.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elias 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
Colin and Elias changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2025, ending at #119 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Elias were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1538 and #69.
List by list
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1946–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Elias in 36.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Elias #3 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Elias #4.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Elias in 25.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Elias #69 in 2025.
The order changed in 2001: Elias moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #392 and #422; by 2001 that had become #383 and #365.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #1538, Elias #69.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2002–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Elias in 6.
Highest recorded here: Colin #88 in 2006, Elias #185 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Elias moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #226 and #280; by 2021 that had become #414 and #225.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Elias #185.
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 Colin
Pairs where Colin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Colin vs Ronald
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2012 they were #169 and #718.
Colin · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #302.
Gary · Colin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Elias
Pairs where Elias shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elias vs Einar
Over 66 shared years in Norway · Boys, Elias rose about as far as Einar fell — from #328 and #23 in 1945 to #4 and #57 in 2025.
Elias · Einar · 66 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Elias vs Erik
Over 66 shared years in Norway · Boys, Elias rose about as far as Erik fell — from #328 and #27 in 1945 to #4 and #64 in 2025.
Elias · Erik · 66 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Elias vs Morten
Over 66 shared years in Norway · Boys, Elias rose about as far as Morten fell — from #328 and #107 in 1945 to #4 and #214 in 2025.
Elias · Morten · 66 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Elias vs Nils
Over 66 shared years in Norway · Boys, Elias rose about as far as Nils fell — from #328 and #26 in 1945 to #4 and #61 in 2025.
Elias · Nils · 66 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Colin | Elias |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of Elijah, commonly interpreted as 'my God is Yahweh'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ɪˈlaɪəs/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Norway · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elias has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Elias both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elias; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
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 #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Elias
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #328 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys