Colin vs Spencer
Colin and Spencercompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Spencer #210 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Spencer #226 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Spencer #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Colin and Spencer over time
Colin and Spencer appear together in 3 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Colin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Spencer in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Spencer in 1. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Spencer changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 2025, ending at #348 and #432.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Colin #219 in 2004, Spencer #172 in 2003.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Spencer in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Spencer #90 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Spencer #210.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1970–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Spencer in 2.
Highest recorded here: Colin #68 in 1970, Spencer #280 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Spencer #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2003–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Spencer in 4.
Highest recorded here: Colin #219 in 2004, Spencer #172 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Spencer #226.
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 | Spencer |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #47 (2025) |
| 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 Spencer 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
Spencer
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2016–2025
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2016–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys