Dylan vs Richard
Dylan and Richardcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Dylan was ranked #12 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Dylan was ranked #14 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Dylan was ranked #115 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dylan and Richard over time
Dylan and Richard appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Richard in 1.
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.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1990, Dylan moved ahead of Richard in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #59 and #56 the year before became #49 and #60.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Dylan and Richard averaged 42.8 places apart, ending at #14 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Richard 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, Richard #77 in 1999.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #64 and #398.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Richard in 22.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 1993: Dylan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #70 and #43; by 1993 that had become #33 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Richard #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Richard #398.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Dylan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Dylan #115, Richard #311.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1980–1999
Dylan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Richard in 11.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Richard #12 in 1982.
The order changed in 1991: Dylan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #38 and #26; by 1991 that had become #30 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Dylan #14, Richard #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1983–1997
Dylan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Richard in 7.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Richard #40 in 1985.
The order changed in 1990: Dylan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #59 and #56; by 1990 that had become #49 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Dylan #12, Richard #98.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Welsh | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Welsh origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Dylan and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- Dylan's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys