Daniel vs Gerald
Daniel and Geraldcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2011, Daniel was ranked #5 and Gerald #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Daniel was ranked #10 and Gerald #770 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Gerald #1859 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1957, Daniel was ranked #82 and Gerald #97 among boys in New Zealand.
Daniel and Gerald over time
Daniel and Gerald appear together in 2 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gerald in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Gerald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Daniel 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Gerald were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #10 and #770.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Gerald #680 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2023
Daniel held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Gerald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Gerald #57 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Daniel #10, Gerald #770.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Gerald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Gerald #680 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Gerald #1859.
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 | Gerald |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 #1859 (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); Gerald does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Gerald both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Gerald 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
Gerald
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #90 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1859 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys