Malcolm vs Terrence
Malcolm and Terrencecompared 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 1964, Malcolm was ranked #65 and Terrence #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1990, Malcolm was ranked #256 and Terrence #323 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Malcolm was ranked #1162 and Terrence #2921 among boys in England and Wales.
Malcolm and Terrence over time
Malcolm and Terrence appear together in 2 published lists, across 42 years of shared records. Malcolm held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Terrence in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Malcolm #472 in 1996, Terrence #964 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Malcolm held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Terrence in 2.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #472 in 1996, Terrence #964 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Malcolm #1162, Terrence #2921.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Malcolm held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Terrence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Malcolm #45 in 1958, Terrence #54 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Malcolm #65, Terrence #97.
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 | Terrence |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2921 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Terrence does not have one recorded yet.
- Malcolm has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Terrence.
- A meaning is recorded for Malcolm; Terrence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE.
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 #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Terrence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #54 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: #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2921 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys