Craig vs Jeffrey
Craig and Jeffreycompared 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 1984, Craig was ranked #36 and Jeffrey #97 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Craig was ranked #45 and Jeffrey #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Craig was ranked #68 and Jeffrey #248 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Jeffrey #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Jeffrey #1595 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Jeffrey over time
Craig and Jeffrey appear together in 4 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jeffrey in 0.
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.
Jeffrey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1959, Craig moved ahead of Jeffrey in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #43 and #33 the year before became #24 and #34.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Jeffrey averaged 35.0 places apart, ending at #45 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Jeffrey were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1953 to 1986, ending at #45 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Jeffrey #476 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Jeffrey in 15.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Jeffrey #120 in 1976.
The order changed in 1981: Craig moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #163 and #142; by 1981 that had become #142 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Jeffrey #770.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1953–1986
Craig held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jeffrey in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Jeffrey #30 in 1962.
The order changed in 1959: Craig moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #43 and #33; by 1959 that had become #24 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Craig #45, Jeffrey #84.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jeffrey in 5.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Jeffrey #476 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Jeffrey moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1492 and #1825; by 2021 that had become #1688 and #1595.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Jeffrey #1595.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1954–1984
Craig held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Jeffrey in 1.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Jeffrey #48 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Craig #36, Jeffrey #97.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Craig
Pairs where Craig shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Craig vs Harrison
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #86 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #52.
Craig · Harrison · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #233.
Craig · Marcus · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Declan
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #371.
Craig · Declan · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Timothy
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #82 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #382.
Craig · Timothy · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Craig | Jeffrey |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | England and Wales · Boys #1595 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| 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)); Jeffrey does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Jeffrey.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Jeffrey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, 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
Jeffrey
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys