Richard vs Simon
Richard and Simon compared 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 1997, Richard was ranked #62 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Richard was ranked #98 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Richard was ranked #481 and Simon #120 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Richard was ranked #232 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Richard was ranked #311 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Richard was ranked #431 and Simon #606 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Richard was ranked #619 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Richard and Simon over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Richard and Simon over time
Richard and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 278 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Simon in 2.
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.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Simon 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 1985, Simon moved ahead of Richard in Norway · Boys — #95 and #124 the year before became #110 and #78.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Richard and Simon changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #311 and #311.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Richard and Simon averaged 59.2 places apart, ending at #431 and #606.
- Longest-running competitions
Richard and Simon were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #431 and #606.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Richard #62 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys76 shared years, 1945–2023
Richard held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Simon in 39.
Highest recorded here: Richard #80 in 1979, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 1985: Simon moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #95 and #124; by 1985 that had become #110 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Richard #481, Simon #120.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Richard held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Simon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Richard #20 in 1986, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Richard #232, Simon #244.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Richard held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Simon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Richard #9 in 1965, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Richard #62, Simon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Richard held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Simon in 23.
Highest recorded here: Richard #16 in 1960, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Richard #98, Simon #94.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Richard held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Richard #62 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Richard #431, Simon #606.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Richard held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Simon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Richard #77 in 1999, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Richard #311, Simon #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.
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 Richard
Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Richard vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #2014.
Richard · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #431.
Henry · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dylan vs Richard
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #72 and #431.
Dylan · Richard · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Simon
Pairs where Simon shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Simon vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #606 and #3256.
Simon · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #606.
Craig · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mitchell vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #79 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1538 and #606.
Mitchell · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rory vs Simon
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #87 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #606.
Rory · Simon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Richard | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Richard and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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 #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #606 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys