Dean vs Edward
Dean and Edwardcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dean was ranked #651 and Edward #31 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Dean was ranked #92 and Edward #67 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1999, Dean was ranked #84 and Edward #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dean was ranked #432 and Edward #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dean was ranked #348 and Edward #145 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dean was ranked #727 and Edward #181 among boys in Scotland.
Dean and Edward over time
Dean and Edward appear together in 5 published lists, across 192 years of shared records. Dean held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Edward in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1961, Dean moved ahead of Edward in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #84 and #68 the year before became #69 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dean and Edward changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1956 and 1991, ending at #92 and #67.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dean and Edward averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #84 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Dean and Edward were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1957 to 1999, ending at #84 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dean #45 in 1997, Edward #104 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1966–2025
Dean held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Edward in 38.
Highest recorded here: Dean #24 in 1993, Edward #17 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dean #432, Edward #125.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1957–1999
Dean held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Edward in 4.
Highest recorded here: Dean #26 in 1968, Edward #59 in 1957.
The order changed in 1961: Dean moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #84 and #68; by 1961 that had become #69 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Dean #84, Edward #90.
New Zealand · Boys36 shared years, 1956–1991
Dean held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Edward in 14.
Highest recorded here: Dean #13 in 1967, Edward #56 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Dean #92, Edward #67.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dean held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Edward in 29.
Highest recorded here: Dean #80 in 1996, Edward #23 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dean #651, Edward #31.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2023
Dean held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Edward in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dean #45 in 1997, Edward #104 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Edward moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #127 and #173; by 2011 that had become #183 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dean #348, Edward #145.
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 | Dean | Edward |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dean has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Edward.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Dean
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1956–1991
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1956–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys