Glen vs Harold
Glen and Haroldcompared 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 1953, Glen was ranked #87 and Harold #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Glen was ranked #479 and Harold #711 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glen was ranked #3688 and Harold #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Glen and Harold over time
Glen and Harold appear together in 2 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Harold reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Glen 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 1967, Glen moved ahead of Harold in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #232 and #147 the year before became #187 and #222.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glen #281 in 1996, Harold #394 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Glen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Harold in 20.
Highest recorded here: Glen #281 in 1996, Harold #394 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Harold moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #760 and #999; by 2005 that had become #1095 and #954.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glen #3688, Harold #1025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2013
Glen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Harold in 1.
Highest recorded here: Glen #83 in 1993, Harold #147 in 1964.
The order changed in 1967: Glen moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #232 and #147; by 1967 that had become #187 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Glen #479, Harold #711.
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 | Glen | Harold |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1025 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Glen has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Harold.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Glen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #92 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 recorded1963–1985
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1963–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Harold
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #88 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 recorded1952–1953
Highest recorded position: #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1953).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1025 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys