Isaac vs Toby
Isaac and Tobycompared 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 2019, Isaac was ranked #18 and Toby #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #26 and Toby #125 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #37 and Toby #86 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Isaac was ranked #46 and Toby #65 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #49 and Toby #234 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Isaac was ranked #104 and Toby #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Isaac and Toby over time
Isaac and Toby appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Isaac held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Toby in 0.
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.
Toby reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Isaac 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 2007, Isaac moved ahead of Toby in England and Wales · Boys — #55 and #52 the year before became #42 and #52.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Isaac and Toby averaged 20.9 places apart, ending at #37 and #86.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Isaac #20 in 2015, Toby #42 in 2014.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Isaac held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Toby in 10.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #20 in 2015, Toby #42 in 2014.
The order changed in 2007: Isaac moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #55 and #52; by 2007 that had become #42 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isaac #37, Toby #86.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1971–2025
Isaac held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Toby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #77 in 2014, Toby #173 in 2022.
The order changed in 1997: Isaac moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #304 and #304; by 1997 that had become #196 and #337.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isaac #104, Toby #329.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2024
Isaac held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Toby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #20 in 2020, Toby #90 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isaac #26, Toby #125.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 2002–2023
Isaac held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Toby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #17 in 2010, Toby #41 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isaac #46, Toby #65.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2003–2019
Isaac held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Toby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #8 in 2015, Toby #52 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Isaac #18, Toby #93.
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 | Isaac | Toby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪzək/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #26 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Isaac has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac); Toby does not have one recorded yet.
- Isaac and Toby both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Isaac; Toby 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
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 #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Toby
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2023
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 2008 (recorded 2002–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys