Craig vs Declan
Craig and Declancompared 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 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Declan #237 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Declan #371 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Declan #404 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Declan #436 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Craig and Declan over time
Craig and Declan appear together in 3 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Declan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Craig 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 1 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Declan moved ahead of Craig in England and Wales · Boys — #81 and #83 the year before became #91 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Declan changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #516 and #436.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Declan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #516 and #436.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Craig #68 in 1997, Declan #54 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #371.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Declan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Declan #12 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Declan #436.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Declan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Declan #66 in 2000.
The order changed in 1997: Declan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #81 and #83; by 1997 that had become #91 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Declan #371.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Declan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Declan #54 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Declan #237.
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 | Declan |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| 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 #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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)); Declan does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Declan.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Declan 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
Declan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys