Niall vs Robert
Niall and Robertcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Niall was ranked #246 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Niall was ranked #144 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Niall was ranked #244 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Niall was ranked #613 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Niall and Robert over time
Niall and Robert appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niall in 1.
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.
Robert 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 2021, Robert moved ahead of Niall in Northern Ireland · Boys — #128 and #132 the year before became #120 and #113.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Niall and Robert changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #144 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Niall and Robert averaged 17.5 places apart, ending at #144 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Niall and Robert were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #244 and #104.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Niall #106 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Niall held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 62.
Highest recorded here: Niall #16 in 1991, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niall #244, Robert #104.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Niall held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Niall #106 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Niall #613, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Niall held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Robert in 8.
Highest recorded here: Niall #26 in 1998, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Robert moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #128 and #132; by 2021 that had become #120 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Niall #144, Robert #93.
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 | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| 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 #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Niall does not have one recorded yet.
- Niall has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Robert.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; 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
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys