Dalton vs Gerard
Dalton and Gerardcompared 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 2024, Dalton was ranked #305 and Gerard #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dalton was ranked #676 and Gerard #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dalton was ranked #468 and Gerard #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dalton was ranked #619 and Gerard #727 among boys in Scotland.
Dalton and Gerard over time
Dalton and Gerard appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Dalton held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Gerard 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.
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, Gerard #462 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dalton held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Gerard in 2.
Highest recorded here: Dalton #386 in 1997, Gerard #462 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Dalton moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #916 and #867; by 2009 that had become #923 and #1358.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dalton #468, Gerard #1675.
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 | Gerard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gerard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Dalton does not have one recorded yet.
- Dalton and Gerard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gerard; 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
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys