Namewise

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 #69 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.

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 Grant

Pairs where Grant shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Hamish

Pairs where Hamish shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Grant, Hamish
FieldGrantHamish
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedShares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob).
OriginNot yet recordedScottish Gaelic
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈheɪmɪʃ/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSeumas, James
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationScotland · Boys #535 (2024)Scotland #25 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1987

    Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1954–1987).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #4270 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys

Hamish

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded2014–2025

    Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).

    Scotland

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #484 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys