Dylan vs Neill
Dylan and Neillcompared 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 2001, Dylan was ranked #8 and Neill #409 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Dylan was ranked #9 and Neill #357 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2013, Dylan was ranked #31 and Neill #4685 among boys in England and Wales.
Dylan and Neill over time
Dylan and Neill appear together in 1 published list, across 28 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Neill 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.
Neill reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
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 1988, Dylan moved ahead of Neill in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #185 and #177 the year before became #148 and #179.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dylan and Neill changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2001, ending at #8 and #409.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Dylan rose about as far as Neill fell — from #246 and #246 in 1969 to #8 and #409 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1969–2001
Dylan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Neill in 6.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Neill #154 in 1983.
The order changed in 1988: Dylan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #185 and #177; by 1988 that had become #148 and #179.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Dylan #8, Neill #409.
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 | Neill |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #4685 (2013) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Neill does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Neill.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Neill doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Neill
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2001
Highest recorded position: #154 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2001).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2001
Most recently recorded at #409 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2001.
Republic of Ireland · Boys