Colin vs Noel
Colin and Noelcompared 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 1964, Colin was ranked #33 and Noel #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1963, Colin was ranked #38 and Noel #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Noel #139 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Colin was ranked #416 and Noel #255 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Noel #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Noel #567 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Noel over time
Colin and Noel appear together in 6 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Noel 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Noel changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #567.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Colin and Noel averaged 50.5 places apart, ending at #348 and #402.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Noel 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Colin #22 in 1952, Noel #54 in 1953.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Noel in 24.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Noel #19 in 1966.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #436 and #343; by 2024 that had become #302 and #394.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Noel #402.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Noel in 18.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Noel #372 in 2015.
The order changed in 2011: Noel moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #491 and #518; by 2011 that had become #732 and #546.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Noel #567.
Norway · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Noel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Noel #132 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Noel #139.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2018
Colin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Noel #168 in 1999.
The order changed in 2013: Noel moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #273 and #346; by 2013 that had become #398 and #303.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Colin #416, Noel #255.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Colin held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Noel #54 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Colin #33, Noel #91.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1963
Colin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Noel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Noel #63 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Colin #38, Noel #94.
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 | Noel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Norway · Boys #139 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noel.
- 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
Noel
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #56 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys