Daniel vs Paal
Daniel and Paalcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2005, Daniel was ranked #5 and Paal #439 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Paal over time
Daniel and Paal appear together in 1 published list, across 57 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Paal 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.
Paal 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Daniel moved ahead of Paal in Norway · Boys — #196 and #167 the year before became #177 and #185.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Daniel and Paal changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2005, ending at #5 and #439.
- Mirrored each other
Over 57 shared years in Norway · Boys, Daniel rose about as far as Paal fell — from #280 and #183 in 1945 to #5 and #439 in 2005.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Paal were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 57 years, from 1945 to 2005, ending at #5 and #439.
List by list
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1945–2005
Daniel held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Paal in 20.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Paal #144 in 1967.
The order changed in 1969: Daniel moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #196 and #167; by 1969 that had become #177 and #185.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Daniel #5, Paal #439.
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 | Paal |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Norway · Boys #439 (2005) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Paal does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paal.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Paal doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Paal
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #183 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2005
Highest recorded position: #144 among boys in Norway, in 1967 (recorded 1945–2005).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2005
Most recently recorded at #439 among boys in Norway, in 2005.
Norway · Boys