Derek vs Mark
Derek and Markcompared 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 Mark #6 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Mark #17 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Derek was ranked #432 and Mark #99 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Mark #169 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Mark #277 among boys in England and Wales.
Derek and Mark over time
Derek and Mark appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Mark held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Derek in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Derek reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mark 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Mark were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #432 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #28 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #432 and #99.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 60.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Mark #7 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Derek #432, Mark #99.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 29.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Mark #55 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Mark #277.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1954–1970
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mark in 17.
Highest recorded here: Derek #76 in 1958, Mark #4 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Derek #95, Mark #6.
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 | Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of the Latin name Marcus used in several languages. Saint Mark authored the second Gospel and is patron saint of Venice. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɑɹk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #99 (2025) |
| 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
- Mark has a recorded origin (Latin); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Mark.
- A meaning is recorded for Mark; 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
Mark
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #362 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2001
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1960 (recorded 1952–2001).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys