Namewise

Corbyn vs Harper

Corbyn and Harpercompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2017, Corbyn was ranked #415 and Harper #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2021, Corbyn was ranked #3990 and Harper #939 among boys in England and Wales.

Corbyn and Harper over time

Corbyn and Harper appear together in 1 published list, across 20 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Corbyn 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.

Corbyn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Harper in none. 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

    Corbyn and Harper changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1999 and 2021, ending at #3990 and #939.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 20 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Harper rose about as far as Corbyn fell — from #2097 and #2425 in 1999 to #3990 and #939 in 2021.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys20 shared years, 19992021

    Corbyn held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Harper in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Corbyn #1077 in 2002, Harper #618 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2010: Harper moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #1302 and #1425; by 2010 that had become #1620 and #897.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Corbyn #3990, Harper #939.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Corbyn, Harper
FieldCorbynHarper
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish (occupational surname)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIRAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #3990 (2021)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)60/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Harper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Corbyn does not have one recorded yet.
  • Corbyn and Harper both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Harper; Corbyn doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR.

How each name got here

Corbyn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1997

    First recorded at #2859 among boys in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2015–2017

    Highest recorded position: #342 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 2015–2017).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2021

    Most recently recorded at #3990 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.

    England and Wales · Boys

Harper

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1999

    First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2012–2023

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls