Gary vs Graeme
Gary and Graemecompared 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 1972, Gary was ranked #54 and Graeme #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Gary was ranked #78 and Graeme #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Gary was ranked #79 and Graeme #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Gary was ranked #383 and Graeme #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Gary was ranked #2546 and Graeme #4107 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Graeme over time
Gary and Graeme appear together in 4 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Graeme in 0.
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 1965, Gary moved ahead of Graeme in New Zealand · Boys — #31 and #30 the year before became #29 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Graeme changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1975, ending at #79 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Graeme averaged 27.4 places apart, ending at #54 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Graeme were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1968 to 2013, ending at #383 and #711.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1968–2013
Gary held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Graeme #152 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Gary #383, Graeme #711.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Gary held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gary #8 in 1952, Graeme #33 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Gary #54, Graeme #96.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Gary held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Graeme in 4.
Highest recorded here: Gary #19 in 1956, Graeme #18 in 1954.
The order changed in 1965: Gary moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #31 and #30; by 1965 that had become #29 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Gary #79, Graeme #86.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2023
Gary held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Graeme in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Graeme #755 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Gary #2546, Graeme #4107.
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 | Graeme |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Graeme does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary and Graeme both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Graeme 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
Graeme
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #33 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 recorded1954–1975
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys