Derek vs Tadhg
Derek and Tadhgcompared 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, Derek was ranked #432 and Tadhg #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Tadhg #307 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Tadhg #406 among boys in England and Wales.
Derek and Tadhg over time
Derek and Tadhg appear together in 2 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Derek reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Tadhg 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1996, Tadhg moved ahead of Derek in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #104 and #114 the year before became #122 and #111.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Derek and Tadhg changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1108 and #406.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Tadhg were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #432 and #8.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1965–2025
Derek held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tadhg in 28.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Tadhg #6 in 2024.
The order changed in 1996: Tadhg moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #104 and #114; by 1996 that had become #122 and #111.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Derek #432, Tadhg #8.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tadhg in 15.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Tadhg #406 in 2024.
The order changed in 2015: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #1144 and #1630; by 2015 that had become #1586 and #996.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Tadhg #406.
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 | Tadhg |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'poet'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈtˠəiɡ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #8 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Tadhg has a recorded origin (Irish); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tadhg.
- A meaning is recorded for Tadhg; Derek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Tadhg
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys