Daniel vs Tom
Daniel and Tomcompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2002, Daniel was ranked #8 and Tom #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Tom #388 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Tom over time
Daniel and Tom appear together in 4 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tom 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.
Daniel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Tom 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 1980, Daniel moved ahead of Tom in Norway · Boys — #29 and #24 the year before became #21 and #29.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Tom were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #66 and #388.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Tom in 35.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Tom #12 in 1960.
The order changed in 1980: Daniel moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #29 and #24; by 1980 that had become #21 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Tom #388.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1980–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Tom in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Tom #48.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tom in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Tom #757.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tom in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, Tom #60.
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 | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tom.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 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: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys