Rodney vs Wayne
Rodney and Waynecompared 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 1974, Rodney was ranked #99 and Wayne #36 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Rodney was ranked #87 and Wayne #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1995, Rodney was ranked #301 and Wayne #86 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Rodney was ranked #2269 and Wayne #2664 among boys in England and Wales.
Rodney and Wayne over time
Rodney and Wayne appear together in 4 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Wayne held the stronger position in more years in 4 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.
Wayne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Rodney 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
Rodney and Wayne changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #87 and #65.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Rodney and Wayne averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #87 and #65.
- Longest-running competitions
Rodney and Wayne were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #87 and #65.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Rodney #1055 in 1998, Wayne #296 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Rodney held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Wayne in 27.
Highest recorded here: Rodney #17 in 1966, Wayne #10 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Rodney #87, Wayne #65.
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025
Rodney held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Wayne in 25.
Highest recorded here: Rodney #1055 in 1998, Wayne #296 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Rodney moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #2671 and #1951; by 2025 that had become #2269 and #2664.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rodney #2269, Wayne #2664.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1964–1995
Rodney held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Wayne in 17.
Highest recorded here: Rodney #135 in 1972, Wayne #65 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Rodney #301, Wayne #86.
New Zealand · Boys20 shared years, 1954–1974
Rodney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Wayne in 20.
Highest recorded here: Rodney #42 in 1967, Wayne #14 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Rodney #99, Wayne #36.
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.
- Michael vs Rodney
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Michael #1 in 1968, Rodney #42 in 1967.
Michael · Rodney · 20 shared years, 1954–1974 · Peaked in the same years
- 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
Other comparisons involving Wayne
Pairs where Wayne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Wayne vs Derek
Wayne and Derek changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #676 and #432.
Wayne · Derek · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Alan vs Wayne
Alan and Wayne both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Alan · Wayne · 71 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Brian vs Wayne
Brian and Wayne both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Brian · Wayne · 71 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Wayne vs Colin
Wayne and Colin both fell over the same years in 3 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Wayne · Colin · 71 shared years, 1952–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Rodney | Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2269 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #676 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Rodney and Wayne both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
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
Wayne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 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 recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1958 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2664 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys