Gavan vs Killian
Gavan and Killiancompared 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 2006, Gavan was ranked #596 and Killian #59 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2005, Gavan was ranked #2754 and Killian #1299 among boys in England and Wales.
Gavan and Killian over time
Gavan and Killian appear together in 1 published list, across 31 years of shared records. Killian held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Gavan in 0.
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.
Gavan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Killian 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 1972, Killian moved ahead of Gavan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #204 and #217 the year before became #203 and #154.
- Longest-running competitions
Gavan and Killian were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1966 to 2006, ending at #596 and #59.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1966–2006
Gavan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Killian in 27.
Highest recorded here: Gavan #182 in 1973, Killian #58 in 1998.
The order changed in 1972: Killian moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #204 and #217; by 1972 that had become #203 and #154.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Gavan #596, Killian #59.
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 | Gavan | Killian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #596 (2006) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gavan and Killian both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Gavan
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #199 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2006
Highest recorded position: #182 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1973 (recorded 1966–2006).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2006
Most recently recorded at #596 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2006.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Killian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #204 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys