Harrison vs Nicholas
Harrison and Nicholascompared 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 2024, Harrison was ranked #26 and Nicholas #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #40 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Harrison was ranked #51 and Nicholas #94 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #52 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #89 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harrison was ranked #118 and Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Harrison and Nicholas over time
Harrison and Nicholas appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Harrison in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Harrison 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Harrison moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2005 as Nicholas fell out of it to #52, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Harrison moved ahead of Nicholas in England and Wales · Boys — #62 and #61 the year before became #56 and #64.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harrison and Nicholas changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1999 and 2025, ending at #118 and #198.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Harrison and Nicholas averaged 31.3 places apart, ending at #26 and #91.
- Mirrored each other
Over 27 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Harrison rose about as far as Nicholas fell — from #330 and #116 in 1999 to #118 and #198 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Harrison and Nicholas were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1992 to 2024, ending at #26 and #91.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1992–2024
Harrison held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Nicholas in 19.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #13 in 2017, Nicholas #6 in 2002.
The order changed in 2011: Harrison moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #31 and #29; by 2011 that had become #26 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harrison #26, Nicholas #91.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harrison held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Nicholas in 4.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #30 in 2007, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Harrison moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #62 and #61; by 2000 that had become #56 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harrison #52, Nicholas #211.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1999–2025
Harrison held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nicholas in 16.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #116 in 2020, Nicholas #116 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Harrison moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #133 and #133; by 2020 that had become #116 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harrison #118, Nicholas #198.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Harrison held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Nicholas in 7.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #74 in 2019, Nicholas #104 in 2000.
The order changed in 2008: Harrison moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #179 and #159; by 2008 that had become #152 and #198.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harrison #89, Nicholas #305.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1994–2011
Harrison held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Nicholas in 10.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #31 in 2003, Nicholas #10 in 1994.
The order changed in 2005: Harrison moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #44 and #39; by 2005 that had become #32 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Harrison #51, Nicholas #94.
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 | Harrison | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #29 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Harrison does not have one recorded yet.
- Harrison and Nicholas both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Harrison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Harrison
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2017 (recorded 1992–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys