Namewise

Donald vs Gregory

Donald and Gregorycompared 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 1969, Donald was ranked #94 and Gregory #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1969, Donald was ranked #95 and Gregory #22 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Donald was ranked #432 and Gregory #727 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2019, Donald was ranked #764 and Gregory #506 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Donald was ranked #1595 and Gregory #1460 among boys in England and Wales.

Donald and Gregory over time

Donald and Gregory appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Donald in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Donald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Gregory 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 1956, Gregory moved ahead of Donald in New Zealand · Boys — #34 and #35 the year before became #36 and #31.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Donald and Gregory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #764 and #506.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Donald #680 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 19642019

    Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Donald #96 in 1965, Gregory #72 in 1967.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Donald #764, Gregory #506.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Donald #680 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Donald #1595, Gregory #1460.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 19521969

    Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Gregory in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Donald #40 in 1953, Gregory #7 in 1954.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1969: Donald #94, Gregory #19.

  • New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 19541969

    Donald held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gregory in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Donald #34 in 1955, Gregory #16 in 1960.

    The order changed in 1956: Gregory moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #34 and #35; by 1956 that had become #36 and #31.

    Most recent shared year, 1969: Donald #95, Gregory #22.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Donald, Gregory
FieldDonaldGregory
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great.
OriginNot yet recordedFrom Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius
Pronunciation/ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationScotland · Boys #432 (2024)Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Donald does not have one recorded yet.
  • Donald has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
  • A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Donald doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Donald

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1969

    Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1969).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys

Gregory

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #9 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1990

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys