Donald vs Francis
Donald and Franciscompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Donald was ranked #58 and Francis #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Donald was ranked #67 and Francis #93 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Donald was ranked #1466 and Francis #193 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Donald was ranked #764 and Francis #285 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Donald was ranked #432 and Francis #352 among boys in Scotland.
Donald and Francis over time
Donald and Francis appear together in 3 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Francis held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Donald in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Donald and Francis were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1466 and #193.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Donald #680 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1964–2019
Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Francis in 32.
Highest recorded here: Donald #96 in 1965, Francis #16 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Donald #764, Francis #285.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Francis in 30.
Highest recorded here: Donald #680 in 1996, Francis #188 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Donald #1466, Francis #193.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961
Donald held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Francis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Donald #40 in 1953, Francis #71 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Donald #58, Francis #93.
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 | Donald | Francis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1466 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #193 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Donald and Francis both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Donald
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 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 recorded1954–1969
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1969).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls