Darren vs Neil
Darren and Neilcompared 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 1985, Darren was ranked #60 and Neil #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1979, Darren was ranked #64 and Neil #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Darren was ranked #273 and Neil #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Neil #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darren was ranked #1108 and Neil #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Neil over time
Darren and Neil appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Neil 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.
Neil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Darren 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 1963, Darren moved ahead of Neil in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #43 and #36 the year before became #29 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darren and Neil changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1108 and #968.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Neil averaged 43.3 places apart, ending at #60 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Darren and Neil were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #676 and #372.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Neil in 5.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Neil #55 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Neil #372.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Darren held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Neil in 4.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Neil #232 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Neil moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #993 and #1084; by 2023 that had become #1272 and #929.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darren #1108, Neil #968.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1960–1985
Darren held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Neil in 3.
Highest recorded here: Darren #10 in 1966, Neil #36 in 1962.
The order changed in 1963: Darren moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #43 and #36; by 1963 that had become #29 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Darren #60, Neil #98.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1997–2012
Darren held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Neil in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #52 in 1997, Neil #84 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Darren #273, Neil #273.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1964–1979
Darren held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Neil in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1965, Neil #45 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Darren moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #85 and #45; by 1965 that had become #13 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Darren #64, Neil #90.
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 Darren
Pairs where Darren shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Darren vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #52 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #25.
Darren · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #53 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #33 and #404.
Rory · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alexander vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #60 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #38 and #404.
Alexander · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Darren | Neil |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 #372 (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
- Darren has a recorded origin (Uncertain (possibly Irish surname, or a variant of Darrell)); Neil does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Neil.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Neil 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys