Fintan vs Gary
Fintan and Garycompared 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 2022, Fintan was ranked #285 and Gary #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Fintan was ranked #582 and Gary #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fintan was ranked #2671 and Gary #2671 among boys in England and Wales.
Fintan and Gary over time
Fintan and Gary appear together in 3 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fintan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Fintan 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 2016, Fintan moved ahead of Gary in Northern Ireland · Boys — #288 and #288 the year before became #180 and #281.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fintan and Gary changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2671 and #2671.
- Longest-running competitions
Fintan and Gary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #582 and #785.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Fintan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gary in 55.
Highest recorded here: Fintan #85 in 1965, Gary #25 in 1991.
The order changed in 2023: Fintan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #552 and #414; by 2023 that had become #396 and #770.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fintan #582, Gary #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fintan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Gary in 23.
Highest recorded here: Fintan #480 in 2000, Gary #147 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fintan #2671, Gary #2671.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2022
Fintan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Gary in 12.
Highest recorded here: Fintan #123 in 2007, Gary #57 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Fintan moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #288 and #288; by 2016 that had become #180 and #281.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Fintan #285, Gary #352.
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 | Fintan | Gary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Boys #278 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Fintan does not have one recorded yet.
- Fintan and Gary both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Fintan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Fintan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys