Craig vs Dean
Craig and Deancompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Dean #41 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #62 and Dean #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Dean #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Dean #436 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Dean #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Dean #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Dean over time
Craig and Dean appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Dean held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Craig in 2.
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.
Dean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Craig 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Dean moved ahead of Craig in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #35 and #50 the year before became #42 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Dean changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1966 and 2023, ending at #516 and #436.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Dean averaged 27.7 places apart, ending at #97 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Dean were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1957 to 1991, ending at #97 and #41.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Dean #80 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #80 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1966–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Dean in 53.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Dean #24 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Dean #436.
New Zealand · Boys36 shared years, 1956–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Dean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Dean #13 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #62, Dean #92.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1957–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Dean in 8.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Dean #26 in 1968.
The order changed in 1984: Dean moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #35 and #50; by 1984 that had become #42 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Dean #41.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Dean in 23.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Dean #80 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Dean #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dean in 16.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Dean #45 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Dean #415.
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 | Craig | Dean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Dean does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig and Dean both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Dean doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Dean
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1991
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1956–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys