Ethan vs Spencer
Ethan and Spencercompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Ethan was ranked #24 and Spencer #71 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #49 and Spencer #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #48 and Spencer #210 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #51 and Spencer #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #54 and Spencer #160 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #57 and Spencer #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Ethan and Spencer over time
Ethan and Spencer appear together in 4 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Ethan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Spencer in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Ethan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Spencer 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ethan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Spencer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #11 in 2011, Spencer #90 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ethan #48, Spencer #210.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2003–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Spencer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #30 in 2012, Spencer #280 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #51, Spencer #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2003–2024
Ethan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Spencer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #4 in 2011, Spencer #160 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ethan #57, Spencer #256.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 2016–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Spencer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #7 in 2016, Spencer #47 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #49, Spencer #47.
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 | Ethan | Spencer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with qualities like 'solid, enduring, firm'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiːθən/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #49 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ethan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Spencer does not have one recorded yet.
- Ethan and Spencer both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ethan; Spencer doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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 #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Spencer
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2016–2025
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2016–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys