Gerard vs Keith
Gerard and Keithcompared 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 1965, Gerard was ranked #96 and Keith #81 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1966, Gerard was ranked #84 and Keith #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2010, Gerard was ranked #183 and Keith #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gerard was ranked #348 and Keith #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gerard was ranked #1675 and Keith #3688 among boys in England and Wales.
Gerard and Keith over time
Gerard and Keith appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Gerard held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Keith in 2.
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.
Keith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Gerard 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gerard and Keith changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1675 and #3688.
- Longest-running competitions
Gerard and Keith were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #348 and #577.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gerard #462 in 1997, Keith #379 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1964–2025
Gerard held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Keith in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #10 in 1964, Keith #17 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gerard #348, Keith #577.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gerard held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Keith in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #462 in 1997, Keith #379 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Gerard moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1869 and #1869; by 2020 that had become #1230 and #3334.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gerard #1675, Keith #3688.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2010
Gerard held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Keith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #57 in 1997, Keith #143 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gerard #183, Keith #339.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1965
Gerard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Keith in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #84 in 1956, Keith #33 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Gerard #96, Keith #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1956–1966
Gerard held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Keith in 8.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #84 in 1966, Keith #42 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Gerard #84, Keith #86.
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 | Gerard | Keith |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gerard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Keith does not have one recorded yet.
- Gerard has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Keith.
- A meaning is recorded for Gerard; Keith 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
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Keith
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #40 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys