Dylan vs Ellison
Dylan and Ellisoncompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Ellison #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2017, Dylan was ranked #1995 and Ellison #4763 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Ellison over time
Dylan and Ellison appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ellison 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.
Ellison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Dylan 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 · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Ellison in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Ellison #863 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Ellison #1951.
England and Wales · Girls10 shared years, 2002–2017
Dylan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ellison in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1689 in 2016, Ellison #1372 in 2002.
The order changed in 2007: Dylan moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #3548 and #3548; by 2007 that had become #2085 and #5201.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Dylan #1995, Ellison #4763.
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 | Dylan | Ellison |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1951 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Ellison does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Ellison.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Ellison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
How each name got here
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ellison
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #863 among boys in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1951 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys