Dillon vs Micheal
Dillon and Michealcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dillon was ranked #395 and Micheal #121 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dillon was ranked #330 and Micheal #660 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dillon was ranked #826 and Micheal #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
Dillon and Micheal over time
Dillon and Micheal appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Micheal held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dillon 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.
Micheal reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Dillon 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 2005, Micheal moved ahead of Dillon in Northern Ireland · Boys — #112 and #144 the year before became #185 and #169.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dillon and Micheal changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1980 and 2023, ending at #330 and #660.
- Longest-running competitions
Dillon and Micheal were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 39 years, from 1980 to 2023, ending at #330 and #660.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dillon #104 in 1997, Micheal #104 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1980–2023
Dillon held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Micheal in 26.
Highest recorded here: Dillon #86 in 1997, Micheal #91 in 1989.
The order changed in 2018: Dillon moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #257 and #120; by 2018 that had become #283 and #369.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dillon #330, Micheal #660.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dillon held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Micheal in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dillon #158 in 2004, Micheal #680 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dillon #826, Micheal #1951.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2023
Dillon held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Micheal in 23.
Highest recorded here: Dillon #104 in 1997, Micheal #104 in 1998.
The order changed in 2005: Micheal moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #112 and #144; by 2005 that had become #185 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dillon #395, Micheal #121.
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 | Dillon | Micheal |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The unaccented catalogue spelling of the Irish name Mícheál, itself the Irish form of Michael, sharing Michael's Hebrew root elements mi + ke + ʾel ('who is like God'). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, from Hebrew via Michael |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmaɪ.kəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Mícheál |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Boys #144 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Micheal has a recorded origin (Irish, from Hebrew via Michael); Dillon does not have one recorded yet.
- Dillon and Micheal both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Micheal; Dillon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Dillon a "medium" Data Confidence level and Micheal a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Dillon
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2025
Highest recorded position: #86 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1980–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Micheal
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 recorded1966–1984
Highest recorded position: #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1966–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1951 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys