Daniel vs Gareth
Daniel and Garethcompared 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 1989, Daniel was ranked #2 and Gareth #93 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Daniel was ranked #8 and Gareth #552 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Daniel was ranked #13 and Gareth #433 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Gareth #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Daniel and Gareth over time
Daniel and Gareth appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gareth in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Gareth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Daniel 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Gareth were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #8 and #552.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2021
Daniel held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Gareth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Gareth #42 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Daniel #8, Gareth #552.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gareth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Gareth #117 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Gareth #2088.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2021
Daniel held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Gareth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Gareth #47 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Daniel #13, Gareth #433.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–1989
Daniel held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Gareth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Gareth #30 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Daniel #2, Gareth #93.
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 | Gareth |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Gareth does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Gareth both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Gareth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Gareth
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 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 recorded1971–1989
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1971–1989).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys