Ethan vs Harry
Ethan and Harry compared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #57 and Harry #13 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #54 and Harry #19 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Ethan was ranked #24 and Harry #40 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #51 and Harry #25 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #54 and Harry #31 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #49 and Harry #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Ethan and Harry over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ethan and Harry over time
Ethan and Harry appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ethan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Harry 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Harry moved into the top 50 at #41 in 2006 as Ethan fell out of it to #54, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2025, Harry moved ahead of Ethan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #33 and #36 the year before became #49 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ethan and Harry changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1989 and 2025, ending at #51 and #25.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Ethan and Harry averaged 20.9 places apart, ending at #54 and #19.
- Longest-running competitions
Ethan and Harry were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #54 and #19.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ethan #11 in 2011, Harry #1 in 2011.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1989–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Harry in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #30 in 2012, Harry #6 in 2018.
The order changed in 2006: Harry moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #49 and #50; by 2006 that had become #54 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #51, Harry #25.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Harry in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #4 in 2011, Harry #15 in 2018.
The order changed in 2025: Harry moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #33 and #36; by 2025 that had become #49 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #49, Harry #39.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Harry in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #11 in 2011, Harry #1 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #54, Harry #19.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2023
Ethan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Harry in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #5 in 2002, Harry #22 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ethan #24, Harry #40.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ethan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Harry in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #4 in 2011, Harry #4 in 2012.
The order changed in 2012: Harry moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #4 and #6; by 2012 that had become #6 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ethan #57, Harry #13.
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 Ethan
Pairs where Ethan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ethan vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #54 and #3256.
Ethan · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ethan vs Tom
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #54 and #976.
Ethan · Tom · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ethan vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #54 and #606.
Ethan · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ethan vs Craig
In 1997 they stood at #62 and #68 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2015 they were #11 and #415.
Ethan · Craig · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Harry
Pairs where Harry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Johannes
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #75 in Norway · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2019 they were #431 and #13.
Harry · Johannes · 46 shared years, 1945–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #8 and #414.
Harry · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Kristian
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #79 in Norway · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #431 and #75.
Harry · Kristian · 46 shared years, 1945–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ethan | Harry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with qualities like 'solid, enduring, firm'. | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Henry — 'home ruler' — and functioning, in modern times, as a nickname for both Henry and names beginning with 'Har-'. During the Middle Ages in England, Henry was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiːθən/ | /ˈhæri/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #49 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #19 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ethan is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Harry is recorded with a English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry origin.
- Ethan and Harry both have 2 syllables.
- Ethan's recorded meaning differs from Harry's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ethan
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #208 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1991–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011 (recorded 1991–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Harry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys