Darrin vs Malcolm
Darrin and Malcolmcompared 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 1966, Darrin was ranked #80 and Malcolm #73 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1971, Darrin was ranked #94 and Malcolm #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1989, Darrin was ranked #278 and Malcolm #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2021, Darrin was ranked #4789 and Malcolm #963 among boys in England and Wales.
Darrin and Malcolm over time
Darrin and Malcolm appear together in 1 published list, across 9 years of shared records. Malcolm held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Darrin in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Darrin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Malcolm 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1969–1989
Darrin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Malcolm in 9.
Highest recorded here: Darrin #173 in 1970, Malcolm #128 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Darrin #278, Malcolm #232.
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 | Darrin | Malcolm |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'disciple' or 'servant of Saint Columba'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmælkəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4789 (2021) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Malcolm has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim); Darrin does not have one recorded yet.
- Darrin and Malcolm both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Malcolm; Darrin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Darrin
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #68 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1965–1966
Highest recorded position: #58 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1965–1966).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #4789 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Boys
Malcolm
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #52 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 recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys