Namewise

Gary vs Justin

Gary and Justincompared 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 Justin #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Justin #42 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2016, Gary was ranked #281 and Justin #421 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Justin #520 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Justin #727 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Gary was ranked #3256 and Justin #735 among boys in England and Wales.

Gary and Justin over time

Gary and Justin appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Justin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gary 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 4 of those lists, Justin 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.

  • One took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Justin moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1970 as Gary fell out of it to #53, having been #38 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1970, Justin moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #38 and #63 the year before became #53 and #36.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Gary and Justin changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2016, ending at #281 and #421.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Gary and Justin were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3256 and #735.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024

    Gary held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Justin in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Justin #80 in 1974.

    The order changed in 2010: Justin moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #185 and #257; by 2010 that had become #278 and #183.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Justin #520.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Gary held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Justin in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Justin #154 in 2003.

    The order changed in 1999: Justin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #208 and #239; by 1999 that had become #261 and #203.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Gary #3256, Justin #735.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1966–1984

    Gary held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Justin in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Gary #30 in 1967, Justin #27 in 1975.

    The order changed in 1970: Justin moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #38 and #63; by 1970 that had become #53 and #36.

    Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Justin #38.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2016

    Gary held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Justin in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Justin #103 in 2002.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Gary #281, Justin #421.

  • New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1968–1981

    Gary held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Justin in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Gary #34 in 1969, Justin #24 in 1975.

    The order changed in 1971: Justin moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #48 and #54; by 1971 that had become #53 and #34.

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Justin #42.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Gary

Pairs where Gary shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Justin

Pairs where Justin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Gary, Justin
FieldGaryJustin
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn 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
OriginGermanic (surname origin)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɡæɹ.i/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #3256 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Justin does not have one recorded yet.
  • Gary and Justin both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Gary; Justin doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Gary

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1984

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3256 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Justin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #139 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 recorded1966–2010

    Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1990 (recorded 1966–2010).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #735 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys