Namewise

Garrett vs Nicholas

Garrett and Nicholascompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2019, Garrett was ranked #3411 and Nicholas #139 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2007, Garrett was ranked #357 and Nicholas #159 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2021, Garrett was ranked #631 and Nicholas #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Garrett and Nicholas over time

Garrett and Nicholas appear together in 2 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Garrett in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Garrett 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Garrett and Nicholas changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2021, ending at #631 and #232.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Garrett and Nicholas were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #631 and #232.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Garrett #1168 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 19642021

    Garrett held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicholas in 37.

    Highest recorded here: Garrett #66 in 1966, Nicholas #58 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Garrett #631, Nicholas #232.

  • England and Wales · Boys16 shared years, 19962019

    Garrett held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Garrett #1168 in 1996, Nicholas #52 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Garrett #3411, Nicholas #139.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Garrett, Nicholas
FieldGarrettNicholas
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #631 (2021)Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Garrett does not have one recorded yet.
  • Garrett has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
  • A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Garrett doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Garrett

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #78 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2021

    Highest recorded position: #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2021).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2021

    Most recently recorded at #631 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2021.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Nicholas

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1951

    First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1955–2024

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys