Robert vs Tom
Robert and Tomcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #104 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #93 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #80 and Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2002, Robert was ranked #90 and Tom #99 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Robert was ranked #151 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Robert was ranked #363 and Tom #388 among boys in Norway.
Robert and Tom over time
Robert and Tom appear together in 4 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Tom 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 2011, Tom moved ahead of Robert in Northern Ireland · Boys — #80 and #95 the year before became #78 and #78.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Robert and Tom changed places 27 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #363 and #388.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Robert and Tom averaged 44.8 places apart, ending at #93 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Robert and Tom were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #363 and #388.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tom in 58.
Highest recorded here: Robert #25 in 1974, Tom #12 in 1960.
The order changed in 2025: Robert moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #348 and #303; by 2025 that had become #363 and #388.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #363, Tom #388.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1980–2025
Robert held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Tom in 13.
Highest recorded here: Robert #12 in 1980, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order changed in 2013: Tom moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #48 and #58; by 2013 that had become #50 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Robert #104, Tom #48.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Robert held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Tom in 0.
Highest recorded here: Robert #30 in 1996, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robert #151, Tom #757.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Robert held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tom in 14.
Highest recorded here: Robert #35 in 1997, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order changed in 2011: Tom moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #80 and #95; by 2011 that had become #78 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Robert #93, Tom #60.
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 | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Robert has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tom.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys