Name Rivalries
Pairs of names with a real history against each other — 11641 relationships across 10 kinds, each with its own page. Every one is drawn from a single published list, where both names were measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so each is a fact about that ranking rather than a similarity judgement.
Drawn from the 2,573 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking — Namewise does not claim one displaced the other. Compare any two names · Most connected names
One took the other's place near the top
One name moved into the top fifty of a published list as the other dropped out of it, and the order held afterwards.
- Sean vs Noah
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Noah moved into the top 50 at #3 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
- Sean vs Harry
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Harry moved into the top 50 at #6 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
- Sean vs Luke
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke moved into the top 50 at #7 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
One moved ahead of the other
The order between the two changed in a published list and still held at the end of their shared record.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
- Amelia vs Sophie
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #5 and #2 the year before became #1 and #6.
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
- Katie vs Ava
In 2008, Ava moved ahead of Katie in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #6 the year before became #2 and #1.
- Jack vs Benjamin
In 2012, Jack moved ahead of Benjamin in New Zealand · Boys — #10 and #9 the year before became #1 and #15.
Repeatedly exchanged positions
The order between the two changed at least four times in the same published list.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
- Eileen vs Teresa
Eileen and Teresa changed places 32 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #443 and #885.
- Hanna vs Elise
Hanna and Elise changed places 32 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #53 and #63.
Closest over the longest run
The smallest average distance between two names across at least twenty shared years in one list.
- James vs Jack
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, James and Jack averaged 2.0 places apart, ending at #1 and #4.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #59 and #60.
- James vs Joshua
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, James and Joshua averaged 2.7 places apart, ending at #40 and #50.
- Thomas vs Jack
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Thomas and Jack averaged 3.2 places apart, ending at #26 and #22.
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.4 places apart, ending at #60 and #56.
- 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.
Mirrored each other
One rose by roughly as much as the other fell, over the same twenty or more shared years in one published list.
- Aksel vs Erik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Aksel rose about as far as Erik fell — from #174 and #27 in 1945 to #25 and #64 in 2025.
- Morten vs Aksel
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Aksel rose about as far as Morten fell — from #107 and #174 in 1945 to #214 and #25 in 2025.
- Aksel vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Aksel rose about as far as Nils fell — from #174 and #26 in 1945 to #25 and #61 in 2025.
- Peter vs Aksel
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Aksel rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #174 in 1945 to #174 and #25 in 2025.
- Daniel vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Daniel rose about as far as Morten fell — from #280 and #107 in 1945 to #66 and #214 in 2025.
- Daniel vs Peter
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Daniel rose about as far as Peter fell — from #280 and #106 in 1945 to #66 and #174 in 2025.
Moved together in several countries
Both names moved the same way over the same window in at least two different registrars' lists.
- Amelia vs Isabella
Amelia and Isabella both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
- Amelia vs Lily
Amelia and Lily both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
- Amelia vs Mia
Amelia and Mia both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
- Amelia vs Mila
Amelia and Mila both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
- Olivia vs Amelia
Olivia and Amelia both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
- Amelia vs Sophia
Amelia and Sophia both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Close in one country, far apart in another
Within twenty places of each other on average in one registrar's list, and more than two hundred apart on average in another's.
- Linda vs Robyn
Linda and Robyn averaged 4.5 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 334 places apart in Republic of Ireland · Girls.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 421 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
- Alexander vs Arlo
Alexander and Arlo averaged 5.1 places apart in Scotland · Boys, and 533 places apart in England and Wales · Boys.
- Alan vs Ronald
Alan and Ronald averaged 5.7 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, and 223 places apart in Republic of Ireland · Boys.
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 985 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
- William vs Harry
William and Harry averaged 6.1 places apart in England and Wales · Boys, and 211 places apart in Norway · Boys.
Longest-running competitions
The longest shared records — the pairs ranked alongside each other for the most years in one list.
- Anders vs Aksel
Anders and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #25.
- Andreas vs Aksel
Andreas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #25.
- Arne vs Aksel
Arne and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #25.
- Bjørn vs Aksel
Bjørn and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #56 and #25.
- Aksel vs Christian
Aksel and Christian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #131.
- Daniel vs Aksel
Daniel and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #66 and #25.
Peaked in the same years
Both names reached their highest recorded position in the same list within two years of each other.
- Jack vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, Aaron #31 in 1998.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
- Sean vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Sean #1 in 1997, Aaron #6 in 1998.
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Started together, ended far apart
Within ten places of each other at the start of their shared record, and more than two hundred apart by the end.
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #3318.
- Daisy vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #18 and #3318.
- Rosie vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #24 and #3318.
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #3254.
- Robyn vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #80 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #78 and #3318.
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #120 and #3254.