Dylan vs Emerson
Dylan and Emersoncompared 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 2018, Dylan was ranked #26 and Emerson #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Emerson #678 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #1743 and Emerson #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Emerson over time
Dylan and Emerson appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Emerson 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Emerson in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Emerson #594 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Emerson #678.
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 2005–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Emerson in 3.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1454 in 2021, Emerson #1920 in 2016.
The order changed in 2023: Dylan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3148 and #3148; by 2023 that had become #1959 and #2689.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #1743, Emerson #2253.
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 | Emerson |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #678 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Emerson does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Emerson.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Emerson 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
Emerson
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #898 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: #594 among boys in England and Wales, in 2016 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls