Niall vs Paul
Niall and Paulcompared 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 2024, Niall was ranked #144 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Niall was ranked #244 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Niall was ranked #246 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Niall was ranked #613 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Niall and Paul over time
Niall and Paul appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niall in 1.
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.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Niall 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 1998, Niall moved ahead of Paul in Northern Ireland · Boys — #32 and #27 the year before became #26 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Niall and Paul changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #244 and #286.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Niall and Paul averaged 50.3 places apart, ending at #613 and #586.
- Longest-running competitions
Niall and Paul were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #244 and #286.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Niall #106 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Niall held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paul in 42.
Highest recorded here: Niall #16 in 1991, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order changed in 2024: Niall moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #219 and #219; by 2024 that had become #174 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niall #244, Paul #286.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Niall held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Paul in 27.
Highest recorded here: Niall #106 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Niall #613, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Niall held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paul in 1.
Highest recorded here: Niall #26 in 1998, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Niall moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #32 and #27; by 1998 that had become #26 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Niall #144, Paul #278.
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 | Niall | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #244 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
- Niall and Paul both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Niall doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Niall
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #47 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1991 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys