Gary vs Simon
Gary and Simoncompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Simon #21 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1984, Gary was ranked #88 and Simon #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Simon #275 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Gary was ranked #352 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Gary and Simon over time
Gary and Simon appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Simon 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, Simon 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1968, Simon moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #30 and #35 the year before became #33 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Simon changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #352 and #311.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Simon averaged 45.1 places apart, ending at #88 and #30.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Simon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #785 and #275.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #84 and #91 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #275.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Simon in 22.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 2003: Simon moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #87 and #127; by 2003 that had become #117 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Simon #275.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Simon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Simon #524.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1955–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Simon in 15.
Highest recorded here: Gary #14 in 1955, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1968: Simon moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #30 and #35; by 1968 that had become #33 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Simon #30.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1954–1981
Gary held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Simon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gary #19 in 1956, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1968: Simon moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #29 and #31; by 1968 that had become #35 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Simon #21.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2022
Gary held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Simon in 6.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order changed in 2015: Simon moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #346 and #398; by 2015 that had become #288 and #259.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Gary #352, Simon #311.
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 | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Norway · Boys #159 (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)); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Simon 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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys