Dawson vs Robert
Dawson and Robertcompared 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, Dawson was ranked #330 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dawson was ranked #164 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dawson was ranked #432 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dawson was ranked #560 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Dawson and Robert over time
Dawson and Robert appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Dawson in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Dawson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 27.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #470 in 2015, Robert #37 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dawson #560, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1999–2024
Dawson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 18.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #126 in 2023, Robert #45 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dawson #164, Robert #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2010–2025
Dawson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 15.
Highest recorded here: Dawson #226 in 2020, Robert #43 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dawson #432, Robert #104.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Dawson does not have one recorded yet.
- Dawson and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Dawson doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys