Colin vs Eoin
Colin and Eoincompared 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 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Eoin #70 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Eoin #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Eoin #945 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Eoin over time
Colin and Eoin appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Eoin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Colin 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.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Eoin 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
Colin and Eoin changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #945.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Eoin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #348 and #106.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Eoin #398 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #348 and #106.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Eoin in 49.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Eoin #14 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Eoin #106.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Eoin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Eoin #398 in 1998.
The order changed in 2018: Eoin moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #848 and #943; by 2018 that had become #1158 and #870.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Eoin #945.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Eoin in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Eoin #23 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Eoin #70.
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 | Eoin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as the Irish form of John, ultimately tracing to Hebrew elements for 'Yahweh' and 'to be gracious/show favour'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈoːnʲ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eoin has a recorded origin (Irish); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Eoin.
- A meaning is recorded for Eoin; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Eoin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #83 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys