Darren vs Hamish
Darren and Hamishcompared 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 Hamish #45 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #535 and Hamish #70 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Darren was ranked #295 and Hamish #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Darren was ranked #395 and Hamish #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 and Hamish #422 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Hamish over time
Darren and Hamish appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hamish 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.
Darren reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Hamish 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Hamish moved into the top 50 at #30 in 1976 as Darren fell out of it to #55, having been #31 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Hamish moved ahead of Darren in New Zealand · Boys — #31 and #41 the year before became #55 and #30.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Hamish #222 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Darren held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Hamish in 14.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Hamish #222 in 1998.
The order changed in 2011: Hamish moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #419 and #481; by 2011 that had become #473 and #458.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #1108, Hamish #422.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1964–1982
Darren held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Hamish in 7.
Highest recorded here: Darren #19 in 1966, Hamish #30 in 1976.
The order changed in 1976: Hamish moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #31 and #41; by 1976 that had become #55 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Darren #83, Hamish #45.
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 | Hamish |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). |
| Origin | Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdæɹ.ən/ | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seumas, James |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Scotland #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Darren is recorded with a Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell) origin, while Hamish is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin.
- Darren and Hamish both have 2 syllables.
- Darren's recorded meaning differs from Hamish's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Darren a "medium" Data Confidence level and Hamish a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Hamish
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).
Scotland
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 in Scotland, in 2025.
Scotland