Namewise

Darwin vs Hunter

Darwin and Huntercompared 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.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Darwin was ranked #727 and Hunter #52 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Darwin was ranked #1053 and Hunter #78 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Darwin was ranked #770 and Hunter #162 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2016, Darwin was ranked #4763 and Hunter #2966 among girls in England and Wales.

Darwin and Hunter over time

Darwin and Hunter appear together in 1 published list, across 26 years of shared records. Hunter held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Darwin in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

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.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darwin #1013 in 2018, Hunter #44 in 2018.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 19962024

    Darwin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Hunter in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Darwin #1013 in 2018, Hunter #44 in 2018.

    The order changed in 2004: Hunter moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #1326 and #2857; by 2004 that had become #2304 and #1878.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Darwin #1053, Hunter #78.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Darwin, Hunter
FieldDarwinHunter
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn English occupational surname, from Old English 'hunta'/'huntian' ('to hunt') — someone who hunted for a living.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish, an occupational surname describing someone who hunted
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈhʌn.təɹ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationScotland · Boys #727 (2024)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #60 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hunter has a recorded origin (English, an occupational surname describing someone who hunted); Darwin does not have one recorded yet.
  • Darwin and Hunter both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Hunter; Darwin doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Darwin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #1765 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2006–2023

    Highest recorded position: #596 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 2006–2023).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1053 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys

Hunter

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1999–2023

    Highest recorded position: #5 among boys in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 1999–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys