Names that changed direction repeatedly

Names whose published record in one list reversed direction at least six times, each reversal moving it by 100 places or more.

Counted on material reversals only, so ordinary year-to-year wobble does not register. It describes an unsettled record rather than a name going anywhere in particular — the rising, falling and comeback groupings cover direction.

60 names, selected from the 2,573 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• Joseph

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 22 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1949–2025.

• Diane

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 20 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Henrik

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 20 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Lars

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 19 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Edward

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 18 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1950–2025.

• Gustav

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 18 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1997–2023.

• Janice

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 18 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Linda

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 18 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Anders

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Derek

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Geoffrey

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Hans

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Isak

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1998–2024.

• Jesse

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Josephine

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among girls in Norway, across a record running 1951–2025.

• Leif

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Murray

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Pauline

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 17 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Alan

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1946–2025.

• Anthony

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1946–2025.

• Grace

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among girls in Norway, across a record running 1946–2025.

• Janet

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Karin

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2021.

• Liv

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Marius

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Wendy

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 16 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Annie

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Ben

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1950–2023.

• Bernadette

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Denise

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Emilie

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1982–2025.

• Jessica

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in Norway, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Kai

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Linnea

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Rodney

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Roger

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Selma

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Therese

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2023.

• Tracy

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 15 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Brent

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2022.

• Brittany

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Carmel

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Clodagh

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Finley

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1997–2024.

• Fredrik

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Graham

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• James

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jude

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Judith

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Luca

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Mari

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Mathilde

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Meabh

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1999–2024.

• Samantha

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in Norway, across a record running 1969–2025.

• Sofie

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Tor

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 14 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2022.

• Andrea

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 13 times among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Arthur

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 13 times among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Belinda

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 13 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.

• Dylan

  Reversed direction by 100 places or more 13 times among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2024.