Craig vs Gareth
Craig and Garethcompared 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 1989, Craig was ranked #51 and Gareth #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Craig was ranked #398 and Gareth #303 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Craig was ranked #637 and Gareth #741 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Gareth #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Gareth over time
Craig and Gareth appear together in 4 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gareth in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Gareth changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2013, ending at #398 and #303.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Gareth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1964 to 2020, ending at #637 and #741.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2020
Craig held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Gareth in 19.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Gareth #42 in 1980.
The order changed in 2020: Craig moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #646 and #646; by 2020 that had become #637 and #741.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Craig #637, Gareth #741.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Gareth in 2.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Gareth moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1692 and #2755; by 2023 that had become #2325 and #2007.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Gareth #2088.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–1989
Craig held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Gareth in 1.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Gareth #30 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Craig #51, Gareth #93.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1997–2013
Craig held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gareth in 9.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Gareth #47 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Craig #398, Gareth #303.
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 | Gareth |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) |
| 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)); Gareth does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Gareth.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Gareth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Gareth
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 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 recorded1971–1989
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1971–1989).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys