Dylan vs Hayden
Dylan and Haydencompared 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 2012, Dylan was ranked #44 and Hayden #88 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Hayden #279 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Hayden #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Dylan was ranked #70 and Hayden #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Hayden #268 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Hayden #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #1743 and Hayden #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Hayden over time
Dylan and Hayden appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Hayden in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 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.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Dylan moved ahead of Hayden in New Zealand · Boys — #38 and #36 the year before became #30 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dylan and Hayden changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 2000 and 2024, ending at #1743 and #5891.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Hayden averaged 22.1 places apart, ending at #70 and #96.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Dylan rose about as far as Hayden fell — from #3912 and #3912 in 2000 to #1743 and #5891 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Hayden were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1980 to 2012, ending at #44 and #88.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #16 in 2010, Hayden #71 in 2008.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Hayden #177 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Hayden #223.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1980–2012
Dylan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Hayden in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Hayden #26 in 1994.
The order changed in 1991: Dylan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #38 and #36; by 1991 that had become #30 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Dylan #44, Hayden #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Hayden #71 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Hayden #279.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1987–2016
Dylan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Hayden #31 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Dylan #70, Hayden #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Hayden in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Hayden #132 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Hayden #164.
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 2000–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Hayden in 6.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1454 in 2021, Hayden #835 in 2009.
The order changed in 2023: Dylan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3148 and #3148; by 2023 that had become #1959 and #2346.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #1743, Hayden #5891.
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 | Hayden |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Hayden does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan and Hayden both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Hayden doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Hayden
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #67 among boys in New Zealand in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1974–2012
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in New Zealand, in 1994 (recorded 1974–2012).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys