Denis vs Robert
Denis 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1955, Denis was ranked #97 and Robert #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1954, Denis was ranked #82 and Robert #5 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #305 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Denis was ranked #232 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #434 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #423 and Robert #348 among boys in Norway.
Denis and Robert over time
Denis and Robert appear together in 4 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Denis 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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Denis 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Robert moved ahead of Denis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #21 and #22 the year before became #24 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Denis and Robert were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 53 years, from 1970 to 2024, ending at #423 and #348.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Denis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Robert in 61.
Highest recorded here: Denis #21 in 1964, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1965: Robert moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #21 and #22; by 1965 that had become #24 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denis #232, Robert #104.
Norway · Boys53 shared years, 1970–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Robert in 52.
Highest recorded here: Denis #249 in 1984, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #423, Robert #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Denis #262 in 2020, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #434, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1998–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 17.
Highest recorded here: Denis #231 in 2011, Robert #42 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #305, Robert #93.
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 | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Denis and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Denis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
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
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