Craig vs Simon
Craig and Simoncompared 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 Simon #42 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Simon #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Simon #243 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Simon #259 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Simon over time
Craig and Simon appear together in 5 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Simon in 2.
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.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Simon 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 2004, Simon moved ahead of Craig in England and Wales · Boys — #187 and #208 the year before became #222 and #177.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Simon changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #516 and #243.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Simon averaged 23.5 places apart, ending at #97 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 37 years, from 1955 to 1991, ending at #97 and #51.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #524.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Simon in 37.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Simon #243.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1954–1992
Craig held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Simon in 18.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1976: Simon moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #12 and #21; by 1976 that had become #15 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Craig #90, Simon #42.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1955–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Simon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1982: Simon moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #29 and #30; by 1982 that had become #31 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Simon #51.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Simon in 21.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Simon moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #187 and #208; by 2004 that had become #222 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Simon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order changed in 2012: Simon moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #311 and #375; by 2012 that had become #346 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Simon #259.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Simon.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Simon 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys