Neill vs Scott
Neill 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2001, Neill was ranked #409 and Scott #66 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Neill was ranked #357 and Scott #82 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2013, Neill was ranked #4685 and Scott #327 among boys in England and Wales.
Neill and Scott over time
Neill and Scott appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Scott held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Neill 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.
Neill reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Scott 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 1984, Scott moved ahead of Neill in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #154 and #161 the year before became #181 and #163.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Scott rose about as far as Neill fell — from #219 and #235 in 1970 to #409 and #66 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1970–2001
Neill held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Scott in 25.
Highest recorded here: Neill #154 in 1983, Scott #66 in 2001.
The order changed in 1984: Scott moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #154 and #161; by 1984 that had become #181 and #163.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Neill #409, Scott #66.
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 | Neill | 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4685 (2013) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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)); Neill does not have one recorded yet.
- Neill and Scott both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Scott; Neill doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Neill
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 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 recorded1964–2001
Highest recorded position: #154 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1983 (recorded 1964–2001).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2001
Most recently recorded at #409 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2001.
Republic of Ireland · 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