Robert vs Simon
Robert and Simoncompared 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, Robert was ranked #42 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Robert was ranked #54 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #80 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #104 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Robert was ranked #115 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #151 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #363 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Robert and Simon over time
Robert and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 279 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Simon in 0.
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 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 1990, Simon moved ahead of Robert in Norway · Boys — #49 and #71 the year before became #59 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Robert and Simon averaged 32.1 places apart, ending at #54 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Robert and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #54 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Robert #30 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys78 shared years, 1945–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Simon in 36.
Highest recorded here: Robert #25 in 1974, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 1990: Simon moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #49 and #71; by 1990 that had become #59 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #363, Simon #159.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #12 in 1978, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #104, Simon #244.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Robert held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Simon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Robert #5 in 1954, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Robert #42, Simon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Robert held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #4 in 1955, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Robert #54, Simon #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Robert held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #30 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robert #151, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Robert held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #35 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Robert #115, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Robert | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Robert and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; 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
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
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 #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys