Roman vs Spencer
Roman and Spencercompared 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 2024, Roman was ranked #32 and Spencer #210 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Roman was ranked #46 and Spencer #160 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Roman was ranked #50 and Spencer #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Roman was ranked #63 and Spencer #71 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Roman was ranked #108 and Spencer #256 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Roman was ranked #179 and Spencer #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Roman was ranked #4763 and Spencer #3609 among girls in England and Wales.
Roman and Spencer over time
Roman and Spencer appear together in 3 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. Roman held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Spencer 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.
Spencer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Roman 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 2011, Roman moved ahead of Spencer in England and Wales · Boys — #195 and #170 the year before became #172 and #183.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Roman and Spencer changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 2009 and 2024, ending at #108 and #256.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Roman held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Spencer in 14.
Highest recorded here: Roman #23 in 2021, Spencer #90 in 2003.
The order changed in 2011: Roman moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #195 and #170; by 2011 that had become #172 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Roman #32, Spencer #210.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2009–2025
Roman held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Spencer in 3.
Highest recorded here: Roman #134 in 2024, Spencer #280 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Roman #179, Spencer #432.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2009–2024
Roman held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Spencer in 3.
Highest recorded here: Roman #108 in 2024, Spencer #160 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Roman #108, Spencer #256.
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 Roman
Pairs where Roman shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Adam vs Roman
Adam and Roman averaged 17.5 places apart in New Zealand · Boys, and 205 places apart in England and Wales · Boys.
Adam · Roman · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Jordan vs Roman
Jordan and Roman averaged 18.8 places apart in New Zealand · Boys, and 220 places apart in England and Wales · Boys.
Jordan · Roman · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Hugo vs Roman
In England and Wales · Boys, Roman moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2020 as Hugo fell out of it to #51, having been #48 the year before.
Hugo · Roman · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
Side by side
| Field | Roman | Spencer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Latin Romanus, meaning 'Roman' — borne by several early saints and medieval rulers of Bulgaria, Kyiv and Moldavia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, widely used across Slavic and Germanic languages | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈro.man/ | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #50 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Roman has a recorded origin (Latin, widely used across Slavic and Germanic languages); Spencer does not have one recorded yet.
- Roman and Spencer both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Roman; Spencer doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Roman
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #333 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Spencer
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #305 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2016–2025
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2016–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys