Duncan vs Elton
Duncan and Eltoncompared 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 1979, Duncan was ranked #324 and Elton #292 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Duncan was ranked #1675 and Elton #1282 among boys in England and Wales.
Duncan and Elton over time
Duncan and Elton appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Duncan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Elton 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2024
Duncan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Elton in 1.
Highest recorded here: Duncan #392 in 2000, Elton #1282 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Elton moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1207 and #1309; by 2024 that had become #1675 and #1282.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Duncan #1675, Elton #1282.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1972–1979
Duncan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Elton in 4.
Highest recorded here: Duncan #200 in 1973, Elton #200 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Duncan #324, Elton #292.
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 | Duncan | Elton |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly glossed as 'brown warrior', though sources disagree on the compound's second element: Behind the Name gives 'brown' + 'battle', while Etymonline gives 'brown' + 'head'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Donnchadh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʌŋkən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #246 (2024) | England and Wales · Boys #1282 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Duncan has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Donnchadh); Elton does not have one recorded yet.
- Duncan and Elton both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Duncan; Elton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Duncan
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #250 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 recorded1974–1980
Highest recorded position: #79 among boys in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1974–1980).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1675 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Elton
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #254 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2000
Highest recorded position: #200 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1973 (recorded 1972–2000).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1282 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys