Daniel vs Morten
Daniel and Mortencompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Daniel was ranked #24 and Morten #4747 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Morten #214 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Morten over time
Daniel and Morten appear together in 2 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Morten in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Daniel moved ahead of Morten in Norway · Boys — #9 and #4 the year before became #4 and #7.
- Mirrored each other
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Daniel rose about as far as Morten fell — from #280 and #107 in 1945 to #66 and #214 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Morten were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #66 and #214.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Morten in 40.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Morten #3 in 1973.
The order changed in 1987: Daniel moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #9 and #4; by 1987 that had become #4 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Morten #214.
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2015
Daniel held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Morten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #4 in 1997, Morten #2189 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Daniel #24, Morten #4747.
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 | Morten |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Norway · Boys #214 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Morten does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Morten both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Morten doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
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
Morten
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #107 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 1973 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #214 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys