Nigel vs Tony
Nigel and Tonycompared 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 1983, Nigel was ranked #76 and Tony #53 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1979, Nigel was ranked #99 and Tony #71 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Nigel was ranked #277 and Tony #224 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nigel was ranked #676 and Tony #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nigel was ranked #3688 and Tony #847 among boys in England and Wales.
Nigel and Tony over time
Nigel and Tony appear together in 4 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Tony held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nigel 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.
Tony reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Nigel 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Tony moved ahead of Nigel in New Zealand · Boys — #35 and #38 the year before became #50 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nigel and Tony changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1983, ending at #76 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Nigel and Tony averaged 7.9 places apart, ending at #76 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Nigel and Tony were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1954 to 1983, ending at #76 and #53.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Nigel #552 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1967–2025
Nigel held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Tony in 18.
Highest recorded here: Nigel #67 in 1975, Tony #150 in 1987.
The order changed in 1994: Tony moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #138 and #199; by 1994 that had become #192 and #167.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nigel #676, Tony #372.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1983
Nigel held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tony in 23.
Highest recorded here: Nigel #27 in 1969, Tony #22 in 1967.
The order changed in 1978: Tony moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #35 and #38; by 1978 that had become #50 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Nigel #76, Tony #53.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2024
Nigel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tony in 26.
Highest recorded here: Nigel #552 in 1996, Tony #167 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nigel #3688, Tony #847.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1966–1979
Nigel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tony in 13.
Highest recorded here: Nigel #69 in 1972, Tony #55 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Nigel #99, Tony #71.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Tony
Pairs where Tony shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Gregory vs Tony
Gregory and Tony changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1988, ending at #76 and #71.
Gregory · Tony · 35 shared years, 1954–1988 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Tony
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1971, Tony #55 in 1969.
Jason · Tony · 22 shared years, 1964–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Dean vs Tony
Across 36 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Dean and Tony averaged 10.8 places apart, ending at #92 and #90.
Dean · Tony · 36 shared years, 1956–1991 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Nigel | Tony |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nigel and Tony both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nigel
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Tony
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #96 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 recorded1954–1991
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1967 (recorded 1954–1991).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys