Dylan vs Malachi
Dylan and Malachicompared 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 Malachi #290 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Malachi #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Dylan was ranked #98 and Malachi #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Malachi #727 among boys in Scotland.
Dylan and Malachi over time
Dylan and Malachi appear together in 3 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Malachi in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Malachi reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Malachi #191 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Malachi #290.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1975–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #8 in 2008, Malachi #290 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Malachi #577.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2003–2023
Dylan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #9 in 2007, Malachi #210 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Dylan #98, Malachi #312.
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 | Malachi |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Malachi does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Malachi.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Malachi doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Malachi
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #290 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #191 among boys in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys