Malcolm vs Terence
Malcolm and Terencecompared 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 1964, Malcolm was ranked #51 and Terence #75 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1964, Malcolm was ranked #65 and Terence #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Malcolm was ranked #415 and Terence #342 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Malcolm was ranked #509 and Terence #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Malcolm was ranked #1307 and Terence #1276 among boys in England and Wales.
Malcolm and Terence over time
Malcolm and Terence appear together in 4 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Terence reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Malcolm 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Malcolm and Terence changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1307 and #1276.
- Longest-running competitions
Malcolm and Terence were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1307 and #1276.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Malcolm #472 in 1996, Terence #376 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 1964–2025
Malcolm held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Terence in 40.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #127 in 1966, Terence #54 in 1967.
The order changed in 2023: Malcolm moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #572 and #572; by 2023 that had become #472 and #660.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Malcolm #509, Terence #577.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Malcolm held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Terence in 20.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #472 in 1996, Terence #376 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Malcolm #1307, Terence #1276.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Malcolm held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Terence in 1.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #45 in 1958, Terence #48 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Malcolm #65, Terence #98.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1954–1964
Malcolm held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Terence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #45 in 1956, Terence #57 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Malcolm #51, Terence #75.
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 | Malcolm | Terence |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'disciple' or 'servant of Saint Columba'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmælkəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Malcolm has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (Anglicised), from Mael Coluim); Terence does not have one recorded yet.
- Malcolm has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Terence.
- A meaning is recorded for Malcolm; Terence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Malcolm
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #52 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 recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1307 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Terence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #53 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 recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #48 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1276 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys