Darren vs Gavin
Darren and Gavincompared 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 1988, Darren was ranked #80 and Gavin #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1980, Darren was ranked #90 and Gavin #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Darren was ranked #234 and Gavin #319 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Gavin #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 and Gavin #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Gavin over time
Darren and Gavin appear together in 5 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gavin in 0.
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.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Gavin 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 1979, Darren moved ahead of Gavin in New Zealand · Boys — #90 and #84 the year before became #64 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darren and Gavin changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2018, ending at #234 and #319.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Gavin averaged 27.1 places apart, ending at #80 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Darren and Gavin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #676 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Gavin in 22.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Gavin #32 in 1994.
The order changed in 2025: Gavin moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #287 and #350; by 2025 that had become #676 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Gavin #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Darren held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Gavin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Gavin moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #993 and #1469; by 2023 that had become #1272 and #1108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #1108, Gavin #898.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 1962–1988
Darren held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Gavin in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #10 in 1966, Gavin #40 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Darren #80, Gavin #92.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1964–1980
Darren held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Gavin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1965, Gavin #43 in 1972.
The order changed in 1979: Darren moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #90 and #84; by 1979 that had become #64 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Darren #90, Gavin #100.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2018
Darren held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Gavin in 3.
Highest recorded here: Darren #52 in 1997, Gavin #66 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Darren #234, Gavin #319.
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 | Gavin |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (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
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Gavin does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren and Gavin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Gavin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Gavin
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #70 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1994 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys