Daniel vs Simon
Daniel and Simoncompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Daniel was ranked #2 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Daniel was ranked #3 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Daniel was ranked #14 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Simon over time
Daniel and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 278 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Simon 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.
Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1974, Daniel moved ahead of Simon in New Zealand · Boys — #17 and #16 the year before became #8 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Daniel and Simon changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #66 and #159.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Daniel and Simon averaged 27.3 places apart, ending at #2 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #2 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys78 shared years, 1945–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 75 of those years, Simon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 1964: Daniel moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #264 and #257; by 1964 that had become #230 and #310.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Simon #244.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Daniel held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Simon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1979, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Daniel #2, Simon #94.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1997
Daniel held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Simon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1974: Daniel moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #17 and #16; by 1974 that had become #8 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Daniel #3, Simon #83.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Daniel held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Daniel #14, Simon #311.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys