Darren vs Fraser
Darren and Frasercompared 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 1982, Darren was ranked #83 and Fraser #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #535 and Fraser #101 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #404 and Fraser #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 and Fraser #306 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Darren was ranked #312 and Fraser #755 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Darren and Fraser over time
Darren and Fraser appear together in 2 published lists, across 43 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Fraser 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 1999, Fraser moved ahead of Darren in England and Wales · Boys — #138 and #140 the year before became #194 and #136.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darren and Fraser changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2001 and 2024, ending at #404 and #305.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Fraser #136 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Darren held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Fraser in 26.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Fraser #136 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Fraser moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #138 and #140; by 1999 that had become #194 and #136.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #1108, Fraser #306.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 2001–2024
Darren held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Fraser in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #87 in 2001, Fraser #247 in 2009.
The order changed in 2023: Fraser moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #374 and #433; by 2023 that had become #395 and #395.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #404, Fraser #305.
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 | Darren | Fraser |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Exact meaning uncertain — may derive from a rare Irish surname, or be a variant of Darrell. Popularized in the late 1950s by actor Darren McGavin and in the 1960s by the character Darrin Stephens from Bewitched. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ | 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, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #101 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Fraser does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren and Fraser both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Fraser doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darren
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1960–1989
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1960–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Fraser
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #136 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #306 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys