Cyril vs Isaac
Cyril and Isaaccompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cyril was ranked #1951 and Isaac #37 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Cyril was ranked #718 and Isaac #85 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Cyril and Isaac over time
Cyril and Isaac appear together in 1 published list, across 28 years of shared records. Isaac held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Cyril in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Cyril reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Isaac 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Cyril held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Isaac in 28.
Highest recorded here: Cyril #1457 in 2008, Isaac #20 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cyril #1951, Isaac #37.
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 Isaac
Pairs where Isaac shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Isaac vs Tom
In 1996 they stood at #104 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #37 and #757.
Isaac · Tom · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Isaac
George and Isaac changed places 14 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1981 and 2023, ending at #7 and #46.
George · Isaac · 42 shared years, 1981–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Elijah vs Isaac
Elijah and Isaac both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Isaac · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Jack vs Isaac
Jack and Isaac both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Jack · Isaac · 39 shared years, 1976–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Side by side
| Field | Cyril | Isaac |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally understood as 'he will laugh' or 'he laughs', tied to the biblical narrative in which Abraham and Sarah laugh at the prophecy of Isaac's birth in their old age. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪzək/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1951 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #26 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Isaac has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac); Cyril does not have one recorded yet.
- Cyril and Isaac both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isaac; Cyril doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Cyril
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #116 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 recorded1964–2012
Highest recorded position: #91 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2012).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1951 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Isaac
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 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 recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1990–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys