Gregory vs Wayne
Gregory and Waynecompared 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 1984, Gregory was ranked #51 and Wayne #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Gregory was ranked #60 and Wayne #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Gregory was ranked #277 and Wayne #241 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gregory was ranked #829 and Wayne #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gregory was ranked #1460 and Wayne #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
Gregory and Wayne over time
Gregory and Wayne appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 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.
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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Gregory moved into the top 50 at #39 in 1978 as Wayne fell out of it to #53, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Gregory moved ahead of Wayne in New Zealand · Boys — #50 and #42 the year before became #39 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gregory and Wayne changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1984, ending at #51 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gregory and Wayne averaged 10.3 places apart, ending at #60 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Gregory and Wayne were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #60 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gregory #117 in 1997, Wayne #296 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Gregory held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Wayne in 39.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #72 in 1967, Wayne #59 in 1985.
The order changed in 2016: Wayne moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #508 and #550; by 2016 that had become #713 and #541.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gregory #829, Wayne #676.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1952–1986
Gregory held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Wayne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #7 in 1954, Wayne #10 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Gregory #60, Wayne #85.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1984
Gregory held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Wayne in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #16 in 1960, Wayne #14 in 1959.
The order changed in 1978: Gregory moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #50 and #42; by 1978 that had become #39 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gregory #51, Wayne #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gregory held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Wayne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gregory #117 in 1997, Wayne #296 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gregory #1460, Wayne #1951.
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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 #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Wayne does not have one recorded yet.
- Gregory has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Wayne.
- A meaning is recorded for Gregory; Wayne 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
Wayne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 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 recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys