Colin vs Leigh
Colin and Leighcompared 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 Leigh #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Colin was ranked #165 and Leigh #244 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Colin was ranked #239 and Leigh #554 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Leigh #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Leigh over time
Colin and Leigh appear together in 2 published lists, across 65 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leigh in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Leigh were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1970 to 2015, ending at #239 and #554.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Leigh #423 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1970–2015
Colin held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Leigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Leigh #146 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Colin #239, Leigh #554.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Leigh in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Leigh #423 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Leigh #5119.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Colin
Pairs where Colin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Colin vs Ronald
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2012 they were #169 and #718.
Colin · Ronald · 34 shared years, 1964–2012 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Colin
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #302.
Gary · Colin · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Colin | Leigh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #5119 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 71/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leigh.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Leigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–1983
Highest recorded position: #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1983 (recorded 1981–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys