Gregory vs Karl
Gregory and Karlcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1974, Gregory was ranked #27 and Karl #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1988, Gregory was ranked #76 and Karl #49 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Gregory was ranked #403 and Karl #247 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gregory was ranked #829 and Karl #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #1460 and Karl #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Gregory and Karl over time
Gregory and Karl appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karl in 1.
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.
Gregory reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Karl 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 1979, Karl moved ahead of Gregory in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #43 the year before became #46 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gregory and Karl changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1460 and #2088.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Gregory and Karl averaged 27.0 places apart, ending at #76 and #49.
- Longest-running competitions
Gregory and Karl were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #829 and #829.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gregory #117 in 1997, Karl #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2025
Gregory held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Karl in 50.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #72 in 1967, Karl #47 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gregory #829, Karl #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gregory held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Karl in 6.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #117 in 1997, Karl #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Gregory moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #647 and #626; by 2012 that had become #592 and #783.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gregory #1460, Karl #2088.
New Zealand · Boys27 shared years, 1962–1988
Gregory held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Karl in 11.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #16 in 1963, Karl #33 in 1973.
The order changed in 1979: Karl moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #39 and #43; by 1979 that had become #46 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Gregory #76, Karl #49.
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 | Gregory | Karl |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹɛɡ.ə.ɹi/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gregory has a recorded origin (From Late Greek 'gregoros' ('watchful, alert'), via the Latin Gregorius); Karl does not have one recorded yet.
- Gregory has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Karl.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Karl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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 #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Karl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #35 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–1994
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1994).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys