Dawson vs Hugh
Dawson and Hughcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dawson was ranked #164 and Hugh #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dawson was ranked #432 and Hugh #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dawson was ranked #330 and Hugh #330 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dawson was ranked #560 and Hugh #500 among boys in England and Wales.
Dawson and Hugh over time
Dawson and Hugh appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Hugh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dawson 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.
Hugh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Dawson 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Dawson moved ahead of Hugh in Northern Ireland · Boys — #126 and #126 the year before became #164 and #339.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Dawson rose about as far as Hugh fell — from #1642 and #247 in 1998 to #560 and #500 in 2024.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dawson #126 in 2023, Hugh #126 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Dawson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hugh in 27.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #470 in 2015, Hugh #247 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dawson #560, Hugh #500.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1999–2024
Dawson held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Hugh in 16.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #126 in 2023, Hugh #126 in 2023.
The order changed in 2024: Dawson moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #126 and #126; by 2024 that had become #164 and #339.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dawson #164, Hugh #339.
Republic of Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2010–2025
Dawson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hugh in 15.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #226 in 2020, Hugh #98 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dawson #432, Hugh #179.
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 | Dawson | Hugh |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 92/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dawson has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Hugh.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Dawson
Popularity journey
First recorded1998
First recorded at #1642 among boys in England and Wales in 1998 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #126 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Hugh
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #91 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #53 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys