Hamish vs Simon
Hamish and Simoncompared 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 1997, Hamish was ranked #39 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hamish was ranked #70 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Hamish was ranked #80 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Hamish was ranked #240 and Simon #99 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Hamish was ranked #402 and Simon #295 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Hamish was ranked #422 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Hamish and Simon over time
Hamish and Simon appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Simon held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hamish 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.
Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Hamish moved ahead of Simon in New Zealand · Boys — #40 and #34 the year before became #38 and #42.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Hamish and Simon averaged 27.2 places apart, ending at #39 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Hamish and Simon were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 33 years, from 1964 to 1997, ending at #39 and #83.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Hamish #222 in 1998, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys33 shared years, 1964–1997
Hamish held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Simon in 26.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #30 in 1976, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1992: Hamish moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #40 and #34; by 1992 that had become #38 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Hamish #39, Simon #83.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hamish held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Simon in 25.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #222 in 1998, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Hamish moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #447 and #419; by 2024 that had become #422 and #524.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hamish #422, Simon #524.
Scotland · Boys18 shared years, 2024–2024
Hamish held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #69 in 2024, Simon #535 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hamish #70, Simon #535.
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 | Hamish | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Seumas, James | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland #25 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Hamish has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Hamish and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Hamish; Simon 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 Hamish a "high" Data Confidence level and Simon a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hamish
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded2014–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2014–2025).
Scotland
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 in Scotland, in 2025.
Scotland
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys