Laurence vs Scott
Laurence and Scottcompared 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 2014, Laurence was ranked #346 and Scott #128 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Laurence was ranked #582 and Scott #187 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Laurence was ranked #389 and Scott #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Laurence and Scott over time
Laurence and Scott appear together in 2 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Scott held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Laurence 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Scott moved ahead of Laurence in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #117 and #121 the year before became #130 and #113.
- Longest-running competitions
Laurence and Scott were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1970 to 2024, ending at #582 and #187.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Laurence #161 in 1997, Scott #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1970–2024
Laurence held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Scott in 37.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #64 in 1971, Scott #42 in 2004.
The order changed in 1993: Scott moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #117 and #121; by 1993 that had become #130 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laurence #582, Scott #187.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Laurence held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Scott in 20.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #161 in 1997, Scott #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Laurence moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #412 and #397; by 2017 that had become #377 and #501.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laurence #389, Scott #1025.
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 Scott
Pairs where Scott shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Henry vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #1025.
Henry · Scott · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Scott vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #1025 and #31.
Scott · Edward · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Scott vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #1025 and #44.
Scott · Max · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #164 and #1025.
John · Scott · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Laurence | Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English/Scottish surname referring to a person from Scotland or a Scottish Gaelic speaker, from Latin 'Scoti' ('Gael, Gaelic speaker') — the ultimate origin of that Latin term is itself uncertain. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English/Scottish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈskɑt/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #389 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Scott has a recorded origin (English/Scottish (surname origin)); Laurence does not have one recorded yet.
- Laurence has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Scott.
- A meaning is recorded for Scott; Laurence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Laurence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #389 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Scott
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1999
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1957–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #365 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys