Gregory vs Ian
Gregory and Ian compared 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 1985, Gregory was ranked #70 and Ian #79 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1989, Gregory was ranked #81 and Ian #78 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Gregory was ranked #390 and Ian #262 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gregory was ranked #829 and Ian #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Gregory was ranked #1406 and Ian #585 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #727 and Ian #619 among boys in Scotland.
Gregory and Ian over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Gregory and Ian over time
Gregory and Ian appear together in 4 published lists, across 160 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.
Ian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gregory 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 1962, Gregory moved ahead of Ian in New Zealand · Boys — #17 and #14 the year before became #17 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gregory and Ian changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1406 and #585.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gregory and Ian averaged 8.8 places apart, ending at #81 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Gregory and Ian were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1406 and #585.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gregory #117 in 1997, Ian #138 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Gregory held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ian in 60.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #72 in 1967, Ian #24 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gregory #829, Ian #262.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys38 shared years, 1952–1989
Gregory held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Ian in 1.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #7 in 1954, Ian #9 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Gregory #81, Ian #78.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1954–1985
Gregory held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ian in 8.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #16 in 1960, Ian #10 in 1955.
The order changed in 1962: Gregory moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #17 and #14; by 1962 that had become #17 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Gregory #70, Ian #79.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gregory held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Ian in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #117 in 1997, Ian #138 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Ian moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #581 and #596; by 2014 that had become #695 and #489.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gregory #1406, Ian #585.
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 Gregory
Pairs where Gregory shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rory vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #73 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #60 and #829.
Rory · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gregory vs Eoin
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #106.
Gregory · Eoin · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Gregory
In 1964 they stood at #75 and #78 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #152 and #829.
Shane · Gregory · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gregory vs Barry
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #69 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #402.
Gregory · Barry · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Ian
Pairs where Ian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ian vs Keith
Ian and Keith changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #577.
Ian · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Ciaran
Ian and Ciaran changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #372.
Ian · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Noel
Ian and Noel changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #402.
Ian · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ian vs Timothy
Ian and Timothy changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #262 and #329.
Ian · Timothy · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Gregory | Ian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Latin Gregorius, from Late Greek Gregorios, from 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), itself from 'egeiro' ('to awaken'). Borne by Saint Gregory the Illuminator and Pope Gregory I the Great. | An Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Iain, itself from Latin Iohannes — ultimately from the same Hebrew root as John. |
| Origin | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius | Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ | /ˈiː.ən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory is recorded with a From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius origin, while Ian is recorded with a Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission origin.
- Gregory has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Ian.
- Gregory's recorded meaning differs from Ian's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gregory
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #9 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 recorded1952–1990
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1990).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1406 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Ian
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #351 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1989
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #585 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys