Colin vs William
Colin and Williamcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and William #30 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and William #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and William #61 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Colin and William over time
Colin and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Colin 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and William averaged 16.3 places apart, ending at #90 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #36.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Colin #22 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 62.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, William #8 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, William #73.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 1 of those years, William in 43.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, William #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 32.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, William #12 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, William #36.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, William #27.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, William #11 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, William #30.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, William #61.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #3 (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
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; 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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys