Darren vs Tony
Darren and Tonycompared 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 Tony #56 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1987, Darren was ranked #86 and Tony #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #676 and Tony #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Darren was ranked #395 and Tony #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Darren was ranked #1066 and Tony #1466 among boys in England and Wales.
Darren and Tony over time
Darren and Tony appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Darren held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tony in 1.
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 3 of those lists, Tony 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 1961, Darren moved ahead of Tony in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #83 and #56 the year before became #50 and #57.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darren and Tony changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1066 and #1466.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Darren and Tony averaged 33.7 places apart, ending at #86 and #92.
- Longest-running competitions
Darren and Tony were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1066 and #1466.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darren #123 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1967–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Tony in 2.
Highest recorded here: Darren #18 in 1988, Tony #150 in 1987.
The order changed in 2025: Tony moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #287 and #302; by 2025 that had become #676 and #372.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #676, Tony #372.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Darren held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Tony in 11.
Highest recorded here: Darren #123 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darren #1066, Tony #1466.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1960–1987
Darren held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tony in 1.
Highest recorded here: Darren #10 in 1966, Tony #55 in 1969.
The order changed in 1961: Darren moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #83 and #56; by 1961 that had become #50 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Darren #86, Tony #92.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2023
Darren held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Tony in 4.
Highest recorded here: Darren #52 in 1997, Tony #144 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Darren #395, Tony #395.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1964–1982
Darren held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tony in 15.
Highest recorded here: Darren #13 in 1965, Tony #22 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Darren #83, Tony #56.
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
Other comparisons involving Tony
Pairs where Tony shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Gregory vs Tony
Gregory and Tony changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1988, ending at #76 and #71.
Gregory · Tony · 35 shared years, 1954–1988 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Tony
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1971, Tony #55 in 1969.
Jason · Tony · 22 shared years, 1964–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Dean vs Tony
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Dean and Tony averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #92 and #90.
Dean · Tony · 36 shared years, 1956–1991 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Darren | Tony |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NO, 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)); Tony does not have one recorded yet.
- Darren and Tony both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Darren; Tony 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 #1066 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Tony
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #96 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 recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys