Damon vs Gary
Damon 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 1976, Damon was ranked #88 and Gary #74 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Damon was ranked #277 and Gary #97 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Damon was ranked #582 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Damon was ranked #619 and Gary #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Damon was ranked #1000 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Damon and Gary over time
Damon and Gary appear together in 2 published lists, across 49 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Damon 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.
Damon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Gary 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 — Damon #226 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Damon held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Gary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Damon #226 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2011: Damon moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #942 and #897; by 2011 that had become #701 and #1024.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damon #1000, Gary #2671.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1977–2024
Damon held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Gary in 19.
Highest recorded here: Damon #271 in 1988, Gary #30 in 1992.
The order changed in 2024: Damon moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #764 and #402; by 2024 that had become #582 and #785.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Damon #582, Gary #785.
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 | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #582 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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)); Damon does not have one recorded yet.
- Damon and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; 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
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