Graham vs Nigel
Graham and Nigelcompared 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 1972, Graham was ranked #74 and Nigel #37 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1979, Graham was ranked #100 and Nigel #99 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Graham was ranked #224 and Nigel #277 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Graham was ranked #550 and Nigel #715 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Graham was ranked #2952 and Nigel #3684 among boys in England and Wales.
Graham and Nigel over time
Graham and Nigel appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Graham held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nigel in 0.
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.
Graham reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nigel 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Nigel moved ahead of Graham in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #44 the year before became #47 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Graham and Nigel changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2952 and #3684.
- Longest-running competitions
Graham and Nigel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 47 years, from 1964 to 2014, ending at #550 and #715.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Graham #341 in 1996, Nigel #552 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1964–2014
Graham held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Nigel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Graham #52 in 1984, Nigel #67 in 1975.
The order changed in 1971: Graham moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #94 and #88; by 1971 that had become #73 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Graham #550, Nigel #715.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Graham held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Nigel in 9.
Highest recorded here: Graham #341 in 1996, Nigel #552 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Graham #2952, Nigel #3684.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972
Graham held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nigel in 8.
Highest recorded here: Graham #23 in 1954, Nigel #27 in 1969.
The order changed in 1965: Nigel moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #39 and #44; by 1965 that had become #47 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Graham #74, Nigel #37.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1966–1979
Graham held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nigel in 5.
Highest recorded here: Graham #44 in 1967, Nigel #69 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Graham #100, Nigel #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 | Graham | Nigel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | England and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Graham and Nigel both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
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
Nigel
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 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 recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys