Gary vs Mackenzie
Gary and Mackenziecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Gary was ranked #173 and Mackenzie #387 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Gary was ranked #278 and Mackenzie #611 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Mackenzie #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Mackenzie #924 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Mackenzie over time
Gary and Mackenzie appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Mackenzie 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Mackenzie in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Mackenzie #109 in 2005.
The order changed in 2001: Mackenzie moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #321 and #326; by 2001 that had become #337 and #297.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Mackenzie #924.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2002–2010
Gary held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Mackenzie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gary #82 in 2002, Mackenzie #137 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gary #173, Mackenzie #387.
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 | Mackenzie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #80 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Mackenzie does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Mackenzie.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Mackenzie 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
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
Mackenzie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #869 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2023
Highest recorded position: #33 among girls in New Zealand, in 2018 (recorded 1998–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #80 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls