Colin vs Jeffrey
Colin and Jeffreycompared 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 Jeffrey #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Jeffrey #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Colin was ranked #96 and Jeffrey #248 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Colin was ranked #436 and Jeffrey #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Jeffrey #1595 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Jeffrey over time
Colin and Jeffrey appear together in 4 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jeffrey in 0.
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, Jeffrey 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 1983, Jeffrey moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #80 and #81 the year before became #90 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Jeffrey changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #90 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Jeffrey averaged 7.7 places apart, ending at #90 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Jeffrey were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #83.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Jeffrey #476 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2023
Colin held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Jeffrey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Jeffrey #120 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Colin #436, Jeffrey #770.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jeffrey in 16.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Jeffrey #30 in 1962.
The order changed in 1983: Jeffrey moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #80 and #81; by 1983 that had become #90 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Jeffrey #83.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jeffrey in 1.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Jeffrey #476 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Jeffrey #1595.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jeffrey in 2.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Jeffrey #48 in 1956.
The order changed in 1975: Jeffrey moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #70 and #81; by 1975 that had become #99 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Jeffrey #87.
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 | Jeffrey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1595 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin and Jeffrey both have 2 syllables.
- 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
Jeffrey
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #39 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 recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys