Pearse vs Ruairi
Pearse and Ruairicompared 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, Pearse was ranked #187 and Ruairi #61 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Pearse was ranked #535 and Ruairi #138 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Pearse was ranked #498 and Ruairi #755 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2017, Pearse was ranked #4812 and Ruairi #574 among boys in England and Wales.
Pearse and Ruairi over time
Pearse and Ruairi appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Ruairi held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pearse in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Ruairi reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Pearse 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Pearse and Ruairi changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1966 and 2021, ending at #498 and #755.
- Longest-running competitions
Pearse and Ruairi were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 53 years, from 1966 to 2021, ending at #498 and #755.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Pearse #1578 in 1997, Ruairi #526 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1966–2021
Pearse held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ruairi in 45.
Highest recorded here: Pearse #93 in 1966, Ruairi #81 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Pearse #498, Ruairi #755.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Pearse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruairi in 27.
Highest recorded here: Pearse #85 in 2004, Ruairi #54 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Pearse #187, Ruairi #61.
England and Wales · Boys10 shared years, 1996–2017
Pearse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ruairi in 10.
Highest recorded here: Pearse #1578 in 1997, Ruairi #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Pearse #4812, Ruairi #574.
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 | Pearse | Ruairi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Scottish Gaelic form of Ruaidhrí, combining 'rúad' (red) with 'rí' (king) — 'red king'. The Irish form is spelled Ruairí. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic (this spelling), cognate with the Irish Ruairí |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈrˠuə.ɾʲɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ruairidh, Ruaraidh, Ruairí, Rory, Roderick |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #497 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Ruairi has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (this spelling), cognate with the Irish Ruairí); Pearse does not have one recorded yet.
- Pearse and Ruairi both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ruairi; Pearse doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Pearse a "medium" Data Confidence level and Ruairi a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Pearse
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ruairi
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #256 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #54 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #497 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys