Graham vs Nial
Graham and Nialcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Graham was ranked #280 and Nial #280 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Graham was ranked #283 and Nial #518 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Graham was ranked #2952 and Nial #5137 among boys in England and Wales.
Graham and Nial over time
Graham and Nial appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Graham held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nial 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1965, Graham moved ahead of Nial in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #129 and #129 the year before became #137 and #207.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2005 they were #283 and #518.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1964–2005
Graham held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Nial in 0.
Highest recorded here: Graham #52 in 1984, Nial #129 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Graham moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #129 and #129; by 1965 that had become #137 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Graham #283, Nial #518.
England and Wales · Boys21 shared years, 1996–2025
Graham held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nial in 0.
Highest recorded here: Graham #341 in 1996, Nial #953 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Graham #2952, Nial #5137.
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 Graham
Pairs where Graham shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Benjamin vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #139 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #71 and #770.
Benjamin · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Samuel vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #119 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #90 and #770.
Samuel · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jude vs Graham
In 1965 they stood at #129 and #137 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #95 and #770.
Jude · Graham · 44 shared years, 1965–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Graham vs Marcus
In 1964 they stood at #129 and #136 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #172.
Graham · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Graham | Nial |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #5137 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Graham has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Nial.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Graham
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2952 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Nial
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #129 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 recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #129 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2005).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5137 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys