Owen vs Richard
Owen and Richardcompared 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 1960, Owen was ranked #91 and Richard #12 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1953, Owen was ranked #98 and Richard #28 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Owen was ranked #95 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Owen was ranked #155 and Richard #398 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Owen was ranked #177 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Owen was ranked #317 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Owen and Richard over time
Owen and Richard appear together in 3 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Owen held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Richard 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.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Owen moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #74 and #71 the year before became #40 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Owen and Richard changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #317 and #232.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Owen and Richard averaged 38.9 places apart, ending at #317 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Owen and Richard were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #317 and #232.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Owen #46 in 1999, Richard #77 in 1999.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Owen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Richard in 49.
Highest recorded here: Owen #68 in 1978, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Owen #317, Richard #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Owen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Richard in 2.
Highest recorded here: Owen #31 in 2002, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Owen moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #74 and #71; by 1998 that had become #40 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Owen #155, Richard #398.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Owen held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Owen #46 in 1999, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Owen #177, Richard #311.
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 | Owen | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #317 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Owen does not have one recorded yet.
- Owen and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Owen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Owen
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #31 among boys in England and Wales, in 2002 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys