Damian vs Gary
Damian 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Damian was ranked #61 and Gary #94 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1980, Damian was ranked #82 and Gary #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Damian was ranked #222 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Damian was ranked #271 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Damian was ranked #415 and Gary #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Damian was ranked #432 and Gary #619 among boys in Scotland.
Damian and Gary over time
Damian and Gary appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Damian 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 1974, Damian moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #75 and #58 the year before became #64 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Damian and Gary changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #222 and #785.
- Longest-running competitions
Damian and Gary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #222 and #785.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Damian #160 in 1997, Gary #57 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Damian held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Gary in 38.
Highest recorded here: Damian #46 in 1969, Gary #25 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damian #222, Gary #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Damian held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Gary in 6.
Highest recorded here: Damian #253 in 2023, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Damian moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #394 and #394; by 2005 that had become #374 and #574.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damian #271, Gary #2671.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2017
Damian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Damian #160 in 1997, Gary #57 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Damian #415, Gary #415.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 1969–1980
Damian held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gary in 5.
Highest recorded here: Damian #64 in 1974, Gary #38 in 1969.
The order changed in 1974: Damian moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #75 and #58; by 1974 that had become #64 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Damian #82, Gary #98.
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 | Damian | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (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)); Damian does not have one recorded yet.
- Damian and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Damian 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
Damian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #73 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #46 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #339 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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