Dion vs Gary
Dion 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 1976, Dion was ranked #57 and Gary #74 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Dion was ranked #387 and Gary #173 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dion was ranked #394 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dion was ranked #651 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Dion and Gary over time
Dion and Gary appear together in 3 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Dion 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 1972, Dion moved ahead of Gary in New Zealand · Boys — #60 and #53 the year before became #59 and #66.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dion and Gary changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #651 and #2671.
- Longest-running competitions
Dion and Gary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1992 to 2024, ending at #394 and #785.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1992–2024
Dion held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gary in 25.
Highest recorded here: Dion #144 in 1999, Gary #30 in 1992.
The order changed in 2023: Dion moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #755 and #414; by 2023 that had become #362 and #770.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dion #394, Gary #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dion held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Gary in 6.
Highest recorded here: Dion #271 in 1999, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order changed in 2015: Dion moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #1012 and #889; by 2015 that had become #856 and #1159.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dion #651, Gary #2671.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1967–1976
Dion held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Gary in 5.
Highest recorded here: Dion #50 in 1974, Gary #29 in 1967.
The order changed in 1972: Dion moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #60 and #53; by 1972 that had become #59 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Dion #57, Gary #74.
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 | Dion | 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 | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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)); Dion does not have one recorded yet.
- Dion has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Gary.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Dion doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Dion
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #93 among boys in New Zealand in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1984
Highest recorded position: #50 among boys in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1967–1984).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 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