Colin vs Gregory
Colin and Gregorycompared 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 Gregory #34 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Gregory #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Colin was ranked #273 and Gregory #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Gregory #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Gregory #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Gregory over time
Colin and Gregory appear together in 4 published lists, across 142 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Colin in 1.
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, Gregory 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 1958, Gregory moved ahead of Colin in New Zealand · Boys — #29 and #30 the year before became #29 and #24.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Gregory changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Gregory averaged 30.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #49.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Gregory were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #49.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Gregory #117 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Gregory in 2.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Gregory #72 in 1967.
The order changed in 1966: Colin moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #86 and #80; by 1966 that had become #68 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Gregory #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 32.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Gregory #7 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Gregory #49.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Gregory in 24.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Gregory #117 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1610 and #1071; by 2024 that had become #1000 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Gregory #1460.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gregory in 17.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Gregory #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1958: Gregory moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #29 and #30; by 1958 that had become #29 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Gregory #34.
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 | Gregory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; 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
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys