David vs Richard
David and Richard compared 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 1997, David was ranked #30 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, David was ranked #37 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, David was ranked #45 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, David was ranked #71 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, David was ranked #73 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, David was ranked #76 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, David was ranked #88 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
David and Richard over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
David and Richard over time
David and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 287 years of shared records. David held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Richard in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
David reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Richard in 2. 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
David and Richard changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2023, ending at #76 and #481.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, David and Richard averaged 31.7 places apart, ending at #30 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
David and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #73 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — David #32 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys79 shared years, 1945–2023
David held the stronger position in 68 of those years, Richard in 11.
Highest recorded here: David #31 in 2005, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: David #76, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
David held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1985, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: David #45, Richard #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
David held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1961, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: David #30, Richard #98.
New Zealand · Boys46 shared years, 1954–1999
David held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #1 in 1960, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: David #37, Richard #81.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
David held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #32 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: David #73, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
David held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: David #9 in 1997, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: David #88, Richard #311.
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 David
Pairs where David shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- David vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #716.
David · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #487.
David · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #45 and #402.
David · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #45 and #348.
David · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Richard
Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Richard vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #2014.
Richard · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #431.
Henry · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dylan vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #72 and #431.
Dylan · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | David | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'beloved', with a possible secondary sense of 'uncle' for the root. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdeɪvɪd/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #45 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- David is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- David and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- David's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
David
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #167 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2018
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys