Craig vs Neil
Craig and Neilcompared 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 1979, Craig was ranked #22 and Neil #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Craig was ranked #45 and Neil #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Craig was ranked #346 and Neil #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Neil #436 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Neil #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Neil over time
Craig and Neil appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Neil in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Neil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Craig 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1959, Craig moved ahead of Neil in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #43 and #35 the year before became #24 and #39.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Neil averaged 45.9 places apart, ending at #45 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Neil were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1953 to 1985, ending at #45 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Neil in 30.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Neil #55 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Neil #436.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1953–1985
Craig held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Neil in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Neil #32 in 1955.
The order changed in 1959: Craig moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #43 and #35; by 1959 that had become #24 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Craig #45, Neil #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Neil in 10.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
The order changed in 2016: Neil moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #821 and #977; by 2016 that had become #1157 and #681.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Neil #968.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1979
Craig held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Neil in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Neil #30 in 1956.
The order changed in 1960: Craig moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #39 and #35; by 1960 that had become #14 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Craig #22, Neil #90.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2012
Craig held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Neil in 3.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Neil #84 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Neil moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #247 and #293; by 2011 that had become #311 and #245.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Craig #346, Neil #273.
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 | Neil |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| 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)); Neil does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig and Neil both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Neil 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys