Dalton vs Gary
Dalton and Garycompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Dalton was ranked #279 and Gary #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dalton was ranked #468 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dalton was ranked #472 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dalton was ranked #619 and Gary #619 among boys in Scotland.
Dalton and Gary over time
Dalton and Gary appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Dalton held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Gary in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Dalton 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dalton #386 in 1997, Gary #147 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dalton held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Gary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Dalton #386 in 1997, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Dalton moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #970 and #897; by 2011 that had become #565 and #1024.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dalton #468, Gary #2671.
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 | Dalton | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Dalton does not have one recorded yet.
- Dalton and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Dalton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Dalton
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2024
Highest recorded position: #279 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2017 (recorded 2015–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys