Gregory vs Neil
Gregory and Neilcompared 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 1979, Gregory was ranked #46 and Neil #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Gregory was ranked #57 and Neil #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Gregory was ranked #403 and Neil #273 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gregory was ranked #829 and Neil #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #1460 and Neil #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Gregory and Neil over time
Gregory and Neil appear together in 4 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Gregory held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Neil 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1973, Neil moved ahead of Gregory in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #92 and #93 the year before became #94 and #79.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gregory and Neil changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1460 and #968.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gregory and Neil averaged 42.0 places apart, ending at #57 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Gregory and Neil were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #57 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gregory #117 in 1997, Neil #232 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #78 and #82 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #829 and #372.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Gregory held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Neil in 52.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #72 in 1967, Neil #55 in 1978.
The order changed in 1973: Neil moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #92 and #93; by 1973 that had become #94 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gregory #829, Neil #372.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1985
Gregory held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Neil in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #7 in 1954, Neil #32 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Gregory #57, Neil #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gregory held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Neil in 3.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #117 in 1997, Neil #232 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Neil moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #921 and #1431; by 2021 that had become #1078 and #1078.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gregory #1460, Neil #968.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1979
Gregory held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Neil in 2.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #16 in 1960, Neil #30 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Gregory #46, Neil #90.
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 | Neil |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (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); Neil does not have one recorded yet.
- Gregory has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Neil.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Neil 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
Neil
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #42 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 recorded1954–1979
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1979).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys