Colin vs Russell
Colin and Russellcompared 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 1974, Colin was ranked #81 and Russell #92 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Russell #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2004, Colin was ranked #219 and Russell #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Colin was ranked #454 and Russell #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Russell #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Russell over time
Colin and Russell appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Russell in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Russell changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Russell averaged 24.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Russell were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Russell #257 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1964–2022
Colin held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Russell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Russell #205 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Colin #454, Russell #657.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Russell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Russell #46 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Russell #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Russell in 6.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Russell #257 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1610 and #1018; by 2024 that had become #1000 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Russell #1460.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1974
Colin held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Russell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Russell #37 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Colin #81, Russell #92.
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 | Russell |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #727 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin and Russell both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Russell
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #49 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #37 among boys in New Zealand, in 1959 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1460 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys