Rodney vs Sterling
Rodney and Sterlingcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Rodney was ranked #2269 and Sterling #1197 among boys in England and Wales.
Rodney and Sterling over time
Rodney and Sterling appear together in 1 published list, across 22 years of shared records. Sterling held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Rodney 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.
Rodney reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sterling 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2025
Rodney held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sterling in 12.
Highest recorded here: Rodney #1055 in 1998, Sterling #1104 in 2022.
The order changed in 2012: Sterling moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #2613 and #3300; by 2012 that had become #4805 and #2458.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rodney #2269, Sterling #1197.
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 Rodney
Pairs where Rodney shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Wayne vs Rodney
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Wayne and Rodney averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #65 and #87.
Wayne · Rodney · 32 shared years, 1952–1983 · Closest over the longest run
- Glenn vs Rodney
In New Zealand · Boys, Glenn moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1968 as Rodney fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
Glenn · Rodney · 20 shared years, 1954–1974 · One took the other's place near the top
- Adrian vs Rodney
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1977 as Rodney fell out of it to #55, having been #39 the year before.
Adrian · Rodney · 31 shared years, 1952–1983 · One took the other's place near the top
- Scott vs Rodney
In New Zealand · Boys, Scott moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1968 as Rodney fell out of it to #51, having been #42 the year before.
Scott · Rodney · 14 shared years, 1960–1974 · One took the other's place near the top
Side by side
| Field | Rodney | Sterling |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | GB-ENW |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2269 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #1197 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rodney and Sterling both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
How each name got here
Rodney
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #38 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2269 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sterling
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2337 among boys in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2025
Highest recorded position: #1104 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys