Grant vs Hamish
Grant and Hamishcompared 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 1987, Grant was ranked #99 and Hamish #36 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Grant was ranked #535 and Hamish #70 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Grant was ranked #240 and Hamish #240 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Grant was ranked #379 and Hamish #379 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Grant was ranked #4270 and Hamish #422 among boys in England and Wales.
Grant and Hamish over time
Grant and Hamish appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Hamish held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Grant 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.
Grant reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Hamish 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Hamish moved into the top 50 at #30 in 1976 as Grant fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Hamish moved ahead of Grant in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #41 the year before became #53 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Grant and Hamish averaged 33.9 places apart, ending at #99 and #36.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Grant #128 in 1996, Hamish #222 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grant held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Hamish in 27.
Highest recorded here: Grant #128 in 1996, Hamish #222 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Hamish moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #166 and #228; by 1998 that had become #232 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grant #4270, Hamish #422.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1964–1987
Grant held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Hamish in 12.
Highest recorded here: Grant #13 in 1964, Hamish #30 in 1976.
The order changed in 1976: Hamish moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #39 and #41; by 1976 that had become #53 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Grant #99, Hamish #36.
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 | Grant | Hamish |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seumas, James |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) | Scotland #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Hamish has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Grant does not have one recorded yet.
- Grant has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Hamish.
- A meaning is recorded for Hamish; Grant doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grant a "medium" Data Confidence level and Hamish a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Grant
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1987
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1954–1987).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Hamish
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).
Scotland
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 in Scotland, in 2025.
Scotland