Ivan vs Mervyn
Ivan and Mervyncompared 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 1954, Ivan was ranked #83 and Mervyn #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1989, Ivan was ranked #159 and Mervyn #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2017, Ivan was ranked #299 and Mervyn #3996 among boys in England and Wales.
Ivan and Mervyn over time
Ivan and Mervyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 34 years of shared records. Ivan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Mervyn in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Mervyn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ivan 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 1965, Ivan moved ahead of Mervyn in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #147 and #136 the year before became #119 and #161.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1964–1989
Ivan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Mervyn in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ivan #91 in 1969, Mervyn #136 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Ivan moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #147 and #136; by 1965 that had become #119 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Ivan #159, Mervyn #278.
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1998–2017
Ivan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Mervyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ivan #299 in 2017, Mervyn #1962 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ivan #299, Mervyn #3996.
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 | Ivan | Mervyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The Slavic form of John, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪvən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #235 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3996 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivan has a recorded origin (Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes); Mervyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Ivan and Mervyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ivan; Mervyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ivan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #192 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1959
Highest recorded position: #83 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1959).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Mervyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #3996 among boys in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Boys