Dale vs Gregory
Dale and Gregorycompared 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 1988, Dale was ranked #75 and Gregory #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Dale was ranked #200 and Gregory #390 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Dale was ranked #495 and Gregory #710 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dale was ranked #2671 and Gregory #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Dale and Gregory over time
Dale and Gregory appear together in 3 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dale in 0.
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.
Gregory reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Dale 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, Gregory moved ahead of Dale in England and Wales · Boys — #117 and #125 the year before became #147 and #117.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dale and Gregory changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1968 and 2017, ending at #495 and #710.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dale and Gregory averaged 58.2 places apart, ending at #75 and #69.
- Longest-running competitions
Dale and Gregory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1968 to 2017, ending at #495 and #710.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dale #117 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #117 and #125 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #2671 and #1460.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1968–2017
Dale held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Gregory in 27.
Highest recorded here: Dale #89 in 1994, Gregory #83 in 1968.
The order changed in 2017: Dale moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #713 and #713; by 2017 that had become #495 and #710.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Dale #495, Gregory #710.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dale held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Gregory in 28.
Highest recorded here: Dale #117 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
The order changed in 1997: Gregory moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #117 and #125; by 1997 that had become #147 and #117.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dale #2671, Gregory #1460.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1957–1988
Dale held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 25.
Highest recorded here: Dale #75 in 1988, Gregory #7 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Dale #75, Gregory #69.
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 | Dale | Gregory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Dale does not have one recorded yet.
- Dale has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Dale doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Dale
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1991
Highest recorded position: #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1988 (recorded 1957–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys