Edward vs Rodney
Edward and Rodneycompared 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 Rodney #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1974, Edward was ranked #68 and Rodney #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Edward was ranked #70 and Rodney #301 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Edward was ranked #82 and Rodney #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Edward and Rodney over time
Edward and Rodney appear together in 4 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Edward held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rodney in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, Rodney 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 1982, Edward moved ahead of Rodney in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #95 and #70 the year before became #76 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Rodney changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1974, ending at #68 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Edward and Rodney averaged 35.5 places apart, ending at #82 and #87.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Rodney were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #82 and #87.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Edward held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rodney in 30.
Highest recorded here: Edward #48 in 1952, Rodney #17 in 1966.
The order changed in 1982: Edward moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #95 and #70; by 1982 that had become #76 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Edward #82, Rodney #87.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Rodney in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Rodney #1055 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Rodney #2671.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1964–1995
Edward held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rodney in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Rodney #135 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Edward #70, Rodney #301.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1974
Edward held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rodney in 5.
Highest recorded here: Edward #51 in 1955, Rodney #42 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Edward #68, Rodney #99.
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 | Rodney |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2671 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Edward and Rodney both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
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
Rodney
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #38 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 recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys