Namewise

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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Dylan was ranked #72 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.

  • 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 166 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 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Dylan and Robert averaged 55.8 places apart, ending at #72 and #164.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Dylan and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #72 and #164.

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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Dylan held the stronger position in 26 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, 2025: Dylan #72, Robert #164.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Dylan

Pairs where Dylan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Robert

Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Dylan, Robert
FieldDylanRobert
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally 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.
OriginWelshGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈdɪlən//ˈɹɑb.əɹt/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1980–2020

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Robert

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2003

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys