Duncan vs Quentin
Duncan and Quentincompared 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 1977, Duncan was ranked #82 and Quentin #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2004, Duncan was ranked #506 and Quentin #506 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Duncan was ranked #1675 and Quentin #1235 among boys in England and Wales.
Duncan and Quentin over time
Duncan and Quentin appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Duncan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Quentin 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.
Duncan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Quentin 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Duncan and Quentin changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1675 and #1235.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Duncan #220 in 1996, Quentin #761 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Duncan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Quentin in 8.
Highest recorded here: Duncan #220 in 1996, Quentin #761 in 1998.
The order changed in 2024: Quentin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1207 and #1610; by 2024 that had become #1675 and #1235.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Duncan #1675, Quentin #1235.
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 | Quentin |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #246 (2024) | England and Wales · Boys #1235 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Duncan has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Donnchadh); Quentin does not have one recorded yet.
- Duncan and Quentin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Duncan; Quentin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
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
Quentin
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #229 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys