Derek vs Gary
Derek and Garycompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1970, Derek was ranked #95 and Gary #48 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Gary #83 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #472 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Gary #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Derek and Gary over time
Derek and Gary appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Derek 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Derek and Gary changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #472 and #785.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Gary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #472 and #785.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Gary in 36.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Gary #25 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #472, Gary #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gary in 24.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Derek moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1329 and #1329; by 2022 that had become #1179 and #2018.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Gary #2671.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1954–1970
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gary in 17.
Highest recorded here: Derek #76 in 1958, Gary #19 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Derek #95, Gary #48.
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 | Derek | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Derek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Derek
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 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: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys