Dylan vs Marcus
Dylan and Marcuscompared 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 2014, Dylan was ranked #51 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2020, Dylan was ranked #93 and Marcus #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dylan and Marcus over time
Dylan and Marcus appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dylan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Marcus in 2. 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.
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 2020, Marcus moved ahead of Dylan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #80 and #84 the year before became #93 and #83.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dylan and Marcus changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #69 and #232.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Marcus averaged 35.0 places apart, ending at #93 and #83.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Dylan rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #246 and #154 in 1969 to #69 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Marcus were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #69 and #232.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #7 in 2001, Marcus #100 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Marcus in 17.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Marcus #107 in 1971.
The order changed in 1990: Dylan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #136 and #129; by 1990 that had become #132 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Marcus in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Marcus moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #98 and #200; by 2024 that had become #154 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Marcus #144.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1995–2020
Dylan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Marcus in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order changed in 2020: Marcus moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #80 and #84; by 2020 that had become #93 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Dylan #93, Marcus #83.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1980–2014
Dylan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #11 in 1993, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Dylan #51, Marcus #90.
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 | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (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); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan and Marcus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys