Colin vs Richard
Colin and Richardcompared 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 Richard #9 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Richard #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Colin was ranked #150 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Colin was ranked #416 and Richard #416 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Colin and Richard over time
Colin and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin 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 4 of those lists, Richard 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1959, Richard moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #24 and #26 the year before became #25 and #17.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Richard changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #90 and #42.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Richard averaged 24.9 places apart, ending at #90 and #42.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Richard were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #42.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Richard in 52.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Richard #232.
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1946–2023
Colin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Richard in 24.
Highest recorded here: Colin #128 in 2022, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 2009: Colin moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #287 and #277; by 2009 that had become #303 and #316.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Colin #150, Richard #481.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Richard in 28.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1959: Richard moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #24 and #26; by 1959 that had become #25 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Richard #42.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Richard #398.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Richard #9.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2018
Colin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Richard in 17.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Colin #416, Richard #416.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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 #232 (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
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys