Gary vs Todd
Gary and Toddcompared 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 Todd #58 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Todd #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Gary was ranked #124 and Todd #307 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Gary was ranked #310 and Todd #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Todd #1675 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Todd over time
Gary and Todd appear together in 3 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Todd in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Todd 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 1974, Todd moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #58 and #61 the year before became #65 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Todd changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2671 and #1675.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Todd #202 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Todd in 17.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Todd #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Todd moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #1097 and #1178; by 2018 that had become #1455 and #1194.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Todd #1675.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1964–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Todd in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1965, Todd #57 in 1971.
The order changed in 1974: Todd moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #58 and #61; by 1974 that had become #65 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Todd #58.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1966–1981
Gary held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Todd in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gary #26 in 1966, Todd #71 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Todd #99.
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 | Todd |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | England and Wales · Boys #1675 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Todd does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Todd.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Todd doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Todd
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #92 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1992
Highest recorded position: #55 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1964–1992).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1675 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys