Edward vs Henry
Edward and Henrycompared 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 2025, Edward was ranked #75 and Henry #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Edward was ranked #73 and Henry #8 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Henry #14 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Henry #45 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #189 and Henry #50 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Henry #76 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Henry #95 among boys in Scotland.
Edward and Henry over time
Edward and Henry appear together in 6 published lists, across 253 years of shared records. Henry held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Edward in 1.
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.
Edward reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Henry in 1. 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 2005, Henry moved ahead of Edward in England and Wales · Boys — #43 and #48 the year before became #46 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Henry changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #177 and #45.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Edward and Henry averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #31 and #14.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Henry rose about as far as Edward fell — from #104 and #160 in 1997 to #177 and #45 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Henry were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 33 years, from 1954 to 2023, ending at #73 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Edward #17 in 1965, Henry #60 in 1964.
List by list
Norway · Boys73 shared years, 1950–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Henry in 55.
Highest recorded here: Edward #168 in 2012, Henry #50 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #189, Henry #50.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Henry in 11.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Henry #60 in 1964.
The order changed in 2022: Henry moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #97 and #108; by 2022 that had become #112 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Henry #76.
New Zealand · Boys33 shared years, 1954–2023
Edward held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Henry in 23.
Highest recorded here: Edward #55 in 1954, Henry #8 in 2023.
The order changed in 1993: Henry moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #75 and #82; by 1993 that had become #82 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Edward #73, Henry #8.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Henry in 20.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Henry #10 in 2021.
The order changed in 2005: Henry moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #43 and #48; by 2005 that had become #46 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Henry #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1993–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Henry in 25.
Highest recorded here: Edward #42 in 2015, Henry #4 in 2023.
The order changed in 1997: Henry moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #72 and #82; by 1997 that had become #85 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #75, Henry #6.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Henry in 21.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Henry #22 in 2023.
The order changed in 2007: Henry moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #137 and #167; by 2007 that had become #149 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, Henry #45.
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 | Edward | Henry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Home ruler, estate ruler. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via Old French Henri |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛnɹi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Harry, Hal, Heinrich, Henri |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Henry has a recorded origin (Germanic, via Old French Henri); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Edward and Henry both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Henry; Edward doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Edward a "medium" Data Confidence level and Henry a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Henry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #102 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 1993–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys