Gareth vs Lee
Gareth and Leecompared 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 1987, Gareth was ranked #82 and Lee #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #552 and Lee #312 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Gareth was ranked #421 and Lee #421 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gareth was ranked #2088 and Lee #1235 among boys in England and Wales.
Gareth and Lee over time
Gareth and Lee appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Lee held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gareth 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1985, Lee moved ahead of Gareth in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #93 and #116 the year before became #112 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Gareth and Lee were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 48 years, from 1970 to 2021, ending at #552 and #312.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gareth #117 in 1996, Lee #64 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys48 shared years, 1970–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lee in 34.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #42 in 1980, Lee #42 in 1998.
The order changed in 1985: Lee moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #93 and #116; by 1985 that had become #112 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #552, Lee #312.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lee in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #117 in 1996, Lee #64 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gareth #2088, Lee #1235.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lee in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #47 in 1997, Lee #42 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gareth #421, Lee #421.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1975–1987
Gareth held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lee in 2.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #30 in 1982, Lee #67 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Gareth #82, Lee #80.
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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 #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gareth has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Lee.
- 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
Lee
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2018
Highest recorded position: #42 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2018).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys