Harry vs Isaac
Harry and Isaaccompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #13 and Isaac #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #19 and Isaac #36 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #25 and Isaac #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #39 and Isaac #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #31 and Isaac #49 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Harry was ranked #40 and Isaac #46 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Harry was ranked #431 and Isaac #217 among boys in Norway.
Harry and Isaac over time
Harry and Isaac appear together in 6 published lists, across 165 years of shared records. Harry held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Isaac in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 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, Harry moved into the top 50 at #40 in 2022 as Isaac fell out of it to #53, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Isaac moved ahead of Harry in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #15 and #17 the year before became #20 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harry and Isaac changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1994 and 2025, ending at #39 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Harry and Isaac averaged 36.9 places apart, ending at #19 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Harry and Isaac were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #19 and #36.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1968–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Isaac in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #6 in 2018, Isaac #77 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #25, Isaac #104.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1994–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Isaac in 27.
Highest recorded here: Harry #15 in 2018, Isaac #8 in 2015.
The order changed in 2019: Isaac moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #15 and #17; by 2019 that had become #20 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #39, Isaac #26.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Isaac in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #1 in 2011, Isaac #20 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #19, Isaac #36.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2023
Harry held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Isaac in 26.
Highest recorded here: Harry #22 in 2018, Isaac #17 in 2010.
The order changed in 2022: Harry moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #58 and #45; by 2022 that had become #40 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harry #40, Isaac #46.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Isaac in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #4 in 2012, Isaac #20 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #13, Isaac #26.
Norway · Boys10 shared years, 1974–2019
Harry held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Isaac in 5.
Highest recorded here: Harry #376 in 1974, Isaac #217 in 2019.
The order changed in 2017: Isaac moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #410 and #568; by 2017 that had become #478 and #282.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Harry #431, Isaac #217.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Harry
Pairs where Harry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Harry vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2021 they were #10 and #433.
Harry · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Johannes
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #75 in Norway · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2019 they were #431 and #13.
Harry · Johannes · 46 shared years, 1945–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #87 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #8 and #414.
Harry · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harry vs Kristian
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #79 in Norway · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #431 and #75.
Harry · Kristian · 46 shared years, 1945–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Isaac
Pairs where Isaac shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Isaac vs Tom
In 1996 they stood at #104 and #102 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #36 and #976.
Isaac · Tom · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Isaac
George and Isaac changed places 14 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1981 and 2023, ending at #7 and #46.
George · Isaac · 42 shared years, 1981–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Elijah vs Isaac
Elijah and Isaac both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Isaac · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Jack vs Isaac
Jack and Isaac both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Jack · Isaac · 39 shared years, 1976–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Harry | Isaac |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Henry — 'home ruler' — and functioning, in modern times, as a nickname for both Henry and names beginning with 'Har-'. During the Middle Ages in England, Henry was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. | Traditionally understood as 'he will laugh' or 'he laughs', tied to the biblical narrative in which Abraham and Sarah laugh at the prophecy of Isaac's birth in their old age. |
| Origin | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry | Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæri/ | /ˈaɪzək/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #19 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #26 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harry is recorded with a English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry origin, while Isaac is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac origin.
- Harry and Isaac both have 2 syllables.
- Harry's recorded meaning differs from Isaac's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Harry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Isaac
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1990–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #36 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys