Craig vs Dylan
Craig and Dylancompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Craig was ranked #90 and Dylan #7 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Dylan #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Dylan #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Dylan #43 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Dylan #64 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Dylan #104 among boys in Scotland.
Craig and Dylan over time
Craig and Dylan appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Craig in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Dylan 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Dylan moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1988 as Craig fell out of it to #52, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Dylan moved ahead of Craig in New Zealand · Boys — #45 and #47 the year before became #52 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Dylan changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2023, ending at #516 and #41.
- Mirrored each other
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Dylan rose about as far as Craig fell — from #216 and #246 in 1969 to #516 and #41 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Dylan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 52 years, from 1969 to 2023, ending at #516 and #41.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys52 shared years, 1969–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Dylan in 32.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Dylan #7 in 1998.
The order changed in 1993: Dylan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #44 and #70; by 1993 that had become #48 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Dylan #41.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dylan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Dylan #16 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Dylan #64.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Dylan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Dylan #7 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Dylan #32.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1980–1992
Craig held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Dylan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Craig #24 in 1980, Dylan #7 in 1992.
The order changed in 1988: Dylan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #45 and #47; by 1988 that had become #52 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Craig #90, Dylan #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1983–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Dylan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Craig #35 in 1983, Dylan #43 in 1991.
The order changed in 1989: Dylan moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #60 and #64; by 1989 that had become #61 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Dylan #43.
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 | Dylan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Welsh |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | /ˈdɪlən/ |
| 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 #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) origin, while Dylan is recorded with a Welsh origin.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Dylan.
- Craig's recorded meaning differs from Dylan's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys