Craig vs Marcus
Craig and Marcus compared 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 1973, Craig was ranked #13 and Marcus #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #62 and Marcus #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Marcus #156 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Marcus #172 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Craig was ranked #1705 and Marcus #267 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Marcus over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Craig and Marcus over time
Craig and Marcus appear together in 4 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Marcus 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 1997, Marcus moved ahead of Craig in England and Wales · Boys — #81 and #85 the year before became #91 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Marcus were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1705 and #267.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #267.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Marcus in 29.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Marcus #172.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Craig held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Marcus in 29.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order changed in 1997: Marcus moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #81 and #85; by 1997 that had become #91 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Craig #1705, Marcus #267.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Marcus in 10.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2004: Marcus moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #89 and #100; by 2004 that had become #121 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Marcus #156.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1971–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Marcus #81 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #62, Marcus #96.
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 2025 they were #1705 and #50.
Craig · Harrison · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #3256.
Craig · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #1705 and #372.
Craig · Declan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Christian
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #90 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #393.
Craig · Christian · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Marcus
Pairs where Marcus shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Calum vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #91 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #3256 and #267.
Calum · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #267.
Mitchell · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Graham vs Marcus
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #136 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #172.
Graham · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dean vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #80 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #782 and #267.
Dean · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mia vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #116 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #21 and #4201.
Mia · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Craig | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1705 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Marcus 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #267 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys