Edward vs Laurence
Edward and Laurencecompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Laurence #389 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1956, Edward was ranked #55 and Laurence #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Edward was ranked #118 and Laurence #346 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #144 and Laurence #582 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Edward and Laurence over time
Edward and Laurence appear together in 2 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Edward held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Laurence in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Laurence were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #144 and #582.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Laurence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Laurence #47 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #144, Laurence #582.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Laurence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Laurence #161 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Laurence #389.
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 Edward
Pairs where Edward shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Scott vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #1025 and #31.
Scott · Edward · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Edward vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #45 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #31 and #880.
Edward · Ashley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #638 and #31.
Sean · Edward · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Edward vs Rhys
In 1996 they stood at #45 and #54 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #31 and #355.
Edward · Rhys · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Edward | Laurence |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #389 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Edward has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Laurence.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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
Laurence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #389 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys