Damon vs Duncan
Damon and Duncancompared 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 1976, Damon was ranked #88 and Duncan #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Damon was ranked #619 and Duncan #246 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Damon was ranked #324 and Duncan #369 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Damon was ranked #1000 and Duncan #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Damon and Duncan over time
Damon and Duncan appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Damon held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Duncan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Damon and Duncan changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #1675.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Damon #226 in 1996, Duncan #220 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Damon held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Duncan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Damon #226 in 1996, Duncan #220 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Damon moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #923 and #868; by 2010 that had become #942 and #970.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damon #1000, Duncan #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 | Damon | Duncan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly glossed as 'brown warrior', though sources disagree on the compound's second element: Behind the Name gives 'brown' + 'battle', while Etymonline gives 'brown' + 'head'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Donnchadh |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdʌŋkən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #582 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #246 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Duncan has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Donnchadh); Damon does not have one recorded yet.
- Damon and Duncan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Duncan; Damon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Damon
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #90 among boys in New Zealand in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1974–1976
Highest recorded position: #88 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1974–1976).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1000 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Duncan
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #250 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1974–1980
Highest recorded position: #79 among boys in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1974–1980).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1675 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys