Denis vs Marcel
Denis and Marcelcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Denis was ranked #232 and Marcel #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Denis was ranked #395 and Marcel #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #423 and Marcel #368 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #434 and Marcel #475 among boys in England and Wales.
Denis and Marcel over time
Denis and Marcel appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Marcel held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Denis in 1.
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.
Denis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Marcel in 1. 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
Denis and Marcel changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #434 and #475.
- Longest-running competitions
Denis and Marcel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1972 to 2024, ending at #423 and #368.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Denis #262 in 2020, Marcel #221 in 2018.
List by list
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1972–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Marcel in 26.
Highest recorded here: Denis #249 in 1984, Marcel #211 in 2021.
The order changed in 2007: Marcel moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #352 and #378; by 2007 that had become #413 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #423, Marcel #368.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marcel in 19.
Highest recorded here: Denis #262 in 2020, Marcel #221 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #434, Marcel #475.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Denis held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Marcel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Denis #119 in 2006, Marcel #148 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denis #232, Marcel #372.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2007–2023
Denis held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Marcel in 5.
Highest recorded here: Denis #231 in 2011, Marcel #234 in 2018.
The order changed in 2023: Marcel moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #334 and #392; by 2023 that had become #395 and #272.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Denis #395, Marcel #272.
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 | Denis | Marcel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #360 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Denis and Marcel both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Marcel
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #383 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2005–2025
Highest recorded position: #148 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2014 (recorded 2005–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #360 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys