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Gary vs Simon

Gary and Simon compared 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.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Gary was ranked #619 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Gary was ranked #3256 and Simon #606 among boys in England and Wales.

Gary and Simon over time

Republic of Ireland · Boys
#30#100#30019642024Gary #785Simon #2751964: Gary #84, Simon #911965: Gary #83, Simon #751966: Gary #68, Simon #781967: Gary #66, Simon #701968: Gary #56, Simon #871969: Gary #67, Simon #911970: Gary #58, Simon #781971: Gary #54, Simon #891972: Gary #54, Simon #691973: Gary #60, Simon #731974: Gary #55, Simon #801975: Gary #58, Simon #591976: Gary #61, Simon #621977: Gary #64, Simon #671978: Gary #59, Simon #661979: Gary #49, Simon #621980: Gary #39, Simon #621981: Gary #33, Simon #641982: Gary #37, Simon #641983: Gary #32, Simon #571984: Gary #29, Simon #551985: Gary #34, Simon #521986: Gary #34, Simon #501987: Gary #29, Simon #461988: Gary #35, Simon #461989: Gary #34, Simon #631990: Gary #31, Simon #601991: Gary #25, Simon #631992: Gary #30, Simon #661993: Gary #44, Simon #721994: Gary #34, Simon #921995: Gary #39, Simon #851996: Gary #53, Simon #971997: Gary #53, Simon #881998: Gary #71, Simon #921999: Gary #72, Simon #1072000: Gary #89, Simon #1092001: Gary #98, Simon #1072002: Gary #87, Simon #1272003: Gary #117, Simon #1102004: Gary #116, Simon #1122005: Gary #152, Simon #1192006: Gary #149, Simon #1182007: Gary #201, Simon #1322008: Gary #187, Simon #1632009: Gary #185, Simon #1732010: Gary #278, Simon #1742011: Gary #215, Simon #1422012: Gary #310, Simon #1802013: Gary #383, Simon #1782014: Gary #403, Simon #1842015: Gary #355, Simon #1672016: Gary #372, Simon #1962017: Gary #443, Simon #2032018: Gary #471, Simon #2312019: Gary #402, Simon #2952020: Gary #637, Simon #2192021: Gary #414, Simon #2962023: Gary #770, Simon #2432024: Gary #785, Simon #275

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

England and Wales · Boys
#100#300#1000#300019962025Gary #3256Simon #6061996: Gary #147, Simon #871997: Gary #192, Simon #1071998: Gary #208, Simon #1161999: Gary #261, Simon #1272000: Gary #321, Simon #1432001: Gary #337, Simon #1572002: Gary #392, Simon #1802003: Gary #379, Simon #2082004: Gary #394, Simon #1772005: Gary #574, Simon #2272006: Gary #592, Simon #2252007: Gary #664, Simon #2522008: Gary #746, Simon #2382009: Gary #576, Simon #3012010: Gary #897, Simon #2752011: Gary #1024, Simon #3052012: Gary #977, Simon #2742013: Gary #1001, Simon #2952014: Gary #889, Simon #3052015: Gary #1159, Simon #3452016: Gary #1050, Simon #3592017: Gary #1097, Simon #3682018: Gary #1455, Simon #4142019: Gary #1253, Simon #4042020: Gary #2076, Simon #4182021: Gary #1329, Simon #4012022: Gary #2018, Simon #4532023: Gary #2546, Simon #4192024: Gary #2671, Simon #5242025: Gary #3256, Simon #606

Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.

Gary and Simon over time

Gary and Simon appear together in 5 published lists, across 162 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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3256 and #606.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Gary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Simon in 30.

    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, 2025: Gary #3256, Simon #606.

  • 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.

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 Simon

Pairs where Simon 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart →

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

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

Republic of Ireland overview →

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars →

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Gary, Simon
FieldGarySimon
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/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New ZealandNew South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #3256 (2025)Norway · Boys #159 (2025)
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  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

Simon

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1997

    Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #606 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys