Daniel vs Denis
Daniel and Deniscompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Denis #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Denis #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Denis #434 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #61 and Denis #423 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1954, Daniel was ranked #96 and Denis #82 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1955, Daniel was ranked #86 and Denis #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Daniel and Denis over time
Daniel and Denis appear together in 4 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Denis in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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
Daniel and Denis changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #13 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Denis were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 53 years, from 1970 to 2024, ending at #61 and #423.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 2010, Denis #231 in 2011.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Denis in 2.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Denis #21 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Denis #232.
Norway · Boys53 shared years, 1970–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Denis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Denis #249 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #61, Denis #423.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Denis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Denis #262 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Denis #434.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1998–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Denis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Denis #231 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, Denis #305.
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 | Daniel | Denis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Denis both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Denis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Daniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #280 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1954–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys