Dylan vs Robert
Dylan and Robertcompared 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 2003, Dylan was ranked #16 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Dylan was ranked #44 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dylan and Robert over time
Dylan and Robert appear together in 5 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Robert in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert 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 2000, Dylan moved ahead of Robert in England and Wales · Boys — #46 and #39 the year before became #37 and #41.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Dylan and Robert averaged 54.6 places apart, ending at #64 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Robert were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 32 years, from 1980 to 2012, ending at #44 and #80.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Robert in 24.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1995: Dylan moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #23 and #14; by 1995 that had become #13 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1980–2012
Dylan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Robert in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Robert #15 in 1989.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #30 and #19; by 1992 that had become #7 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Dylan #44, Robert #80.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Robert in 4.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Dylan moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #46 and #39; by 2000 that had become #37 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Robert in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Robert moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #98 and #126; by 2024 that had become #154 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Robert #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1983–2003
Dylan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Robert in 9.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Robert #16 in 1983.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #43 and #31; by 1992 that had become #23 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Dylan #16, Robert #95.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Welsh | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| 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 #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Welsh origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Dylan and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Dylan's recorded meaning differs from Robert'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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys