Gary vs Keelan
Gary and Keelancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Keelan #252 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Gary was ranked #415 and Keelan #363 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Keelan #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Keelan #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Keelan over time
Gary and Keelan appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Keelan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Keelan 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Keelan moved ahead of Gary in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #116 and #126 the year before became #152 and #138.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Keelan changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2671 and #1675.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Keelan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1980 to 2024, ending at #785 and #252.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1980–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Keelan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Keelan #115 in 1999.
The order changed in 2005: Keelan moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #116 and #126; by 2005 that had become #152 and #138.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Keelan #252.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Keelan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Keelan #286 in 2004.
The order changed in 2023: Keelan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #2018 and #2165; by 2023 that had become #2546 and #2160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Keelan #1675.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2017
Gary held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Keelan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Keelan #111 in 2001.
The order changed in 2017: Keelan moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #281 and #320; by 2017 that had become #415 and #363.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Gary #415, Keelan #363.
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 | Keelan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #211 (2025) |
| 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)); Keelan does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary and Keelan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Keelan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Keelan
Popularity journey
First recorded1980
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1980 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #111 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #211 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys