Colin vs Gary
Colin and Garycompared 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 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Gary #79 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Gary #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #302 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Colin was ranked #363 and Gary #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Gary over time
Colin and Gary appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Colin in 2.
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 2 of those lists, Gary 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 Gary changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #90 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Gary averaged 9.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Gary were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Gary #147 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #84 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #302 and #785.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Gary in 25.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Gary #25 in 1991.
The order changed in 2023: Colin moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #414 and #414; by 2023 that had become #436 and #770.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #302, Gary #785.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Gary in 22.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Gary #8 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Gary #85.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Gary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Colin moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #627 and #576; by 2010 that had become #491 and #897.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Gary #2671.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Gary #19 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Gary #79.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2017
Colin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gary in 15.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Gary #57 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Colin moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #398 and #346; by 2017 that had become #363 and #415.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Colin #363, Gary #415.
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 | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| 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
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys