Dylan vs Elton
Dylan 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 2000, Dylan was ranked #10 and Elton #390 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Elton #1282 among boys in England and Wales.
Dylan and Elton over time
Dylan and Elton appear together in 2 published lists, across 31 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elton 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.
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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys23 shared years, 2000–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Elton in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Elton #1282 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Elton #1282.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1973–2000
Dylan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Elton in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #10 in 2000, Elton #200 in 1973.
The order changed in 1974: Dylan moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #215 and #200; by 1974 that had become #190 and #240.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Dylan #10, Elton #390.
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 | Elton |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1282 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Elton does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan and Elton both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Elton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
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
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