Declan vs Gerard
Declan and Gerard 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Declan was ranked #256 and Gerard #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Declan was ranked #348 and Gerard #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Declan was ranked #372 and Gerard #1538 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Declan was ranked #404 and Gerard #727 among boys in Scotland.
Declan and Gerard 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.
Declan and Gerard over time
Declan and Gerard appear together in 3 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Declan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gerard in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Gerard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Declan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Declan and Gerard changed places 10 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #256 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Declan and Gerard averaged 32.1 places apart, ending at #256 and #305.
- Longest-running competitions
Declan and Gerard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #372 and #1538.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Declan #54 in 1997, Gerard #57 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Declan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Gerard in 53.
Highest recorded here: Declan #12 in 1971, Gerard #10 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Declan #348, Gerard #348.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Declan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Gerard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Declan #66 in 2000, Gerard #462 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Declan #372, Gerard #1538.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Declan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Gerard in 11.
Highest recorded here: Declan #54 in 1997, Gerard #57 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Declan #256, Gerard #305.
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 Declan
Pairs where Declan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Declan vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #83 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #372 and #3256.
Declan · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Declan
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #372.
Craig · Declan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Declan
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #372.
Mitchell · Declan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Declan
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #83 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #372.
Shane · Declan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Gerard
Pairs where Gerard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- James vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4 and #348.
James · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #348.
Thomas · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michael vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #348.
Michael · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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 | Declan | Gerard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ |
| 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, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gerard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Declan does not have one recorded yet.
- Declan and Gerard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gerard; Declan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Declan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys