Colin vs Justin
Colin and Justincompared 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 Justin #24 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Justin #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Colin was ranked #218 and Justin #454 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Justin #295 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Justin #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Justin #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Justin over time
Colin and Justin appear together in 5 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Justin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Colin in 2.
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 3 of those lists, Justin in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Justin moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1970 as Colin fell out of it to #51, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Justin moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #48 and #63 the year before became #51 and #36.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Justin changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2021, ending at #433 and #295.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Justin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #348 and #402.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Colin #203 in 2012, Justin #299 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Justin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Justin #80 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Justin #402.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Justin in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Justin #154 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Justin #638.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1969–2017
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Justin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Colin #203 in 2012, Justin #299 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Colin #218, Justin #454.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1966–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Justin in 14.
Highest recorded here: Colin #41 in 1966, Justin #27 in 1975.
The order changed in 1970: Justin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #48 and #63; by 1970 that had become #51 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Justin #38.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Justin in 15.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Justin #103 in 2002.
The order changed in 2012: Justin moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #245 and #311; by 2012 that had become #273 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Justin #295.
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 | Justin |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin and Justin both have 2 syllables.
- 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 #119 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Justin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #139 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 recorded1966–2010
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1990 (recorded 1966–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys