Harry vs William
Harry and William compared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Harry was ranked #431 and William #2 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #39 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #13 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Harry was ranked #40 and William #14 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #19 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #25 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #31 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Harry and William over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Harry and William over time
Harry and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 224 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Harry in 1. 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 2006, Harry moved ahead of William in Northern Ireland · Boys — #32 and #32 the year before became #22 and #33.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harry and William changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #19 and #25.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Harry and William averaged 6.1 places apart, ending at #19 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Harry and William were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #19 and #25.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1965–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 21 of those years, William in 36.
Highest recorded here: Harry #6 in 2018, William #8 in 1965.
The order changed in 2005: Harry moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #56 and #54; by 2005 that had become #50 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #25, William #73.
Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1945–2019
Harry held the stronger position in 26 of those years, William in 20.
Highest recorded here: Harry #69 in 1946, William #2 in 2019.
The order changed in 1971: William moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #260 and #393; by 1971 that had become #359 and #287.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Harry #431, William #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 33.
Highest recorded here: Harry #15 in 2018, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #39, William #11.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 24 of those years, William in 6.
Highest recorded here: Harry #1 in 2011, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #19, William #25.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1994–2023
Harry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Harry #22 in 2018, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Harry #40, William #14.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 20 of those years, William in 7.
Highest recorded here: Harry #4 in 2012, William #26 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Harry moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #32 and #32; by 2006 that had become #22 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #13, William #64.
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 William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #352.
William · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #334.
William · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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 England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- 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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Harry | William |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæri/ | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #19 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harry is recorded with a English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry origin, while William is recorded with a Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) origin.
- Harry and William both have 2 syllables.
- Harry's recorded meaning differs from William'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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys