Darryl vs Harold
Darryl and Haroldcompared 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 1952, Darryl was ranked #90 and Harold #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Darryl was ranked #472 and Harold #604 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Darryl was ranked #4107 and Harold #1533 among boys in England and Wales.
Darryl and Harold over time
Darryl and Harold appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Harold held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Darryl 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.
Harold reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Darryl 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darryl and Harold changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2023, ending at #4107 and #1533.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darryl #335 in 1996, Harold #394 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Darryl held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Harold in 20.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #335 in 1996, Harold #394 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Harold moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #1404 and #1617; by 2014 that had become #3362 and #1223.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Darryl #4107, Harold #1533.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1969–2009
Darryl held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Harold in 9.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #196 in 1996, Harold #178 in 1970.
The order changed in 2005: Darryl moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #506 and #439; by 2005 that had become #448 and #518.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Darryl #472, Harold #604.
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 | Darryl | Harold |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) | England and Wales · Boys #1025 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Darryl and Harold both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Darryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #90 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 recorded1957–1975
Highest recorded position: #58 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1957–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys
Harold
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #88 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 recorded1952–1953
Highest recorded position: #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1953).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1025 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys