Daniel vs Thomas
Daniel and Thomas 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Thomas #11 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #64 and Thomas #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Thomas #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Daniel was ranked #53 and Thomas #18 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Thomas #20 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #62 and Thomas #35 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Thomas #106 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Thomas 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 Thomas over time
Daniel and Thomas appear together in 6 published lists, across 344 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Daniel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Thomas in 2. 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 1997, Thomas moved ahead of Daniel in England and Wales · Boys — #2 and #3 the year before became #4 and #3.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Daniel and Thomas changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #53 and #18.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Thomas averaged 13.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #35.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Thomas were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #62 and #35.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Thomas #2 in 1998.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Thomas in 46.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Thomas #1 in 1974.
The order changed in 1991: Daniel moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #3 and #1; by 1991 that had become #3 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Thomas #106.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys74 shared years, 1952–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Thomas in 39.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1979, Thomas #3 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #64, Thomas #13.
New Zealand · Boys69 shared years, 1954–2023
Daniel held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Thomas in 26.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Thomas #4 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Daniel #53, Thomas #18.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Thomas in 25.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Thomas #5 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Thomas #16.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Thomas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Thomas #2 in 1998.
The order changed in 1997: Thomas moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #2 and #3; by 1997 that had become #4 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #62, Thomas #35.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Thomas in 8.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Thomas #6 in 2020.
The order changed in 2019: Thomas moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #5 and #9; by 2019 that had become #9 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, Thomas #11.
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 Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Thomas
Pairs where Thomas shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Thomas vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #15 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #11 and #404.
Thomas · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · 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
- Thomas vs Aksel
Thomas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #106 and #25.
Thomas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Thomas vs Anders
Thomas and Anders were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #106 and #293.
Thomas · Anders · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales'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 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 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 | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning 'twin'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Aramaic, via Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | /ˈtɑməs/ |
| 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, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #13 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Thomas is recorded with a Aramaic, via Greek origin.
- Daniel and Thomas both have 2 syllables.
- Daniel's recorded meaning differs from Thomas's — see the table above for each.
- 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 #62 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Thomas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #177 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1974 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys