Gareth vs Gregory
Gareth and Gregorycompared 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 1988, Gareth was ranked #83 and Gregory #76 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Gareth was ranked #273 and Gregory #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #552 and Gregory #755 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gareth was ranked #2088 and Gregory #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Gareth and Gregory over time
Gareth and Gregory appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gareth in 1.
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.
Gregory reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gareth 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gareth and Gregory changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2021, ending at #552 and #755.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Gareth and Gregory averaged 53.8 places apart, ending at #552 and #755.
- Longest-running competitions
Gareth and Gregory were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #552 and #755.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gareth #117 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #117 and #125 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #2088 and #1460.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Gregory in 20.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #42 in 1980, Gregory #72 in 1967.
The order changed in 2021: Gareth moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #741 and #741; by 2021 that had become #552 and #755.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #552, Gregory #755.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gareth held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Gregory in 27.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #117 in 1996, Gregory #117 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Gregory moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #237 and #239; by 2003 that had become #270 and #253.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gareth #2088, Gregory #1460.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1971–1988
Gareth held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Gregory in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #30 in 1982, Gregory #24 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Gareth #83, Gregory #76.
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 | Gareth | Gregory |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Gareth does not have one recorded yet.
- Gareth has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Gregory.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Gareth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gareth
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 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 recorded1971–1989
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1971–1989).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys