Daniel vs Gerard
Daniel and Gerard compared 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 Gerard #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Gerard #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Gerard #727 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1966, Daniel was ranked #56 and Gerard #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #62 and Gerard #1538 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1965, Daniel was ranked #70 and Gerard #96 among boys in New Zealand.
Daniel and Gerard over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Daniel and Gerard over time
Daniel and Gerard appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gerard 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.
Gerard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Daniel moved ahead of Gerard in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #26 and #24 the year before became #16 and #26.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Gerard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #62 and #1538.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Gerard #462 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Gerard in 18.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Gerard #10 in 1964.
The order changed in 1983: Daniel moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #26 and #24; by 1983 that had become #16 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Gerard #348.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Gerard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Gerard #462 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #62, Gerard #1538.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Gerard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Gerard #57 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, Gerard #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1956–1966
Daniel held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Gerard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #56 in 1966, Gerard #84 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Daniel #56, Gerard #84.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1954–1965
Daniel held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gerard in 2.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #70 in 1965, Gerard #84 in 1956.
The order changed in 1957: Daniel moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #85 and #84; by 1957 that had become #82 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Daniel #70, Gerard #96.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Daniel
Pairs where Daniel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #402.
Daniel · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #12 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #37 and #404.
Daniel · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Declan
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Declan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Aksel
Daniel and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #66 and #25.
Daniel · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Gerard
Pairs where Gerard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- James vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4 and #348.
James · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #348.
Thomas · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michael vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #348.
Michael · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #2 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #348.
Patrick · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Daniel | Gerard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Gerard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Daniel and Gerard both have 2 syllables.
- Daniel's recorded meaning differs from Gerard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #62 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys