Colin vs Ronald
Colin and Ronaldcompared 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 1969, Colin was ranked #53 and Ronald #98 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Colin was ranked #63 and Ronald #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Colin was ranked #169 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Colin was ranked #492 and Ronald #569 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Ronald over time
Colin and Ronald appear together in 5 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ronald 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 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Colin moved ahead of Ronald in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #89 and #89 the year before became #86 and #103.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Ronald changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #796.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Ronald averaged 14.2 places apart, ending at #63 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Ronald were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1964 to 2012, ending at #169 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Colin #22 in 1952, Ronald #24 in 1952.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2012 they were #169 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Colin held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Colin moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #89 and #89; by 1965 that had become #86 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Colin #169, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Ronald in 10.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order changed in 2015: Ronald moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #684 and #805; by 2015 that had become #821 and #765.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Colin held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Colin #63, Ronald #88.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1954–1969
Colin held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Ronald #36 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Colin #53, Ronald #98.
Norway · Boys15 shared years, 1946–2000
Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Ronald in 11.
Highest recorded here: Colin #326 in 1946, Ronald #134 in 1947.
The order changed in 1999: Colin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #576 and #396; by 1999 that had become #499 and #571.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Colin #492, Ronald #569.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| 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 Ronald both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys