Gary vs Gavin
Gary and Gavincompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1984, Gary was ranked #88 and Gavin #63 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1980, Gary was ranked #89 and Gavin #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Gary was ranked #415 and Gavin #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Gavin #350 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Gavin #898 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Gavin over time
Gary and Gavin appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gavin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 3 of those lists, and Gavin 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gavin moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1970 as Gary fell out of it to #53, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Gavin moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #38 and #51 the year before became #53 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Gavin changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2671 and #898.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Gavin averaged 29.1 places apart, ending at #88 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Gavin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #785 and #350.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Gavin in 34.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Gavin #32 in 1994.
The order changed in 1994: Gavin moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #44 and #46; by 1994 that had become #34 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Gavin #350.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Gavin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Gavin #185 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Gavin moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1253 and #1655; by 2020 that had become #2076 and #1019.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Gavin #898.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1954–1980
Gary held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Gavin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Gary #19 in 1956, Gavin #43 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Gary #89, Gavin #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1962–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Gavin in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gary #22 in 1962, Gavin #40 in 1973.
The order changed in 1970: Gavin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #38 and #51; by 1970 that had become #53 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Gavin #63.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2017
Gary held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Gavin in 5.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Gavin #66 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Gavin moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #173 and #303; by 2017 that had become #415 and #318.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Gary #415, Gavin #318.
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 | Gary | Gavin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Gavin does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary and Gavin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Gavin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Gavin
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #70 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1994 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys