Names that stayed near their highest position for decades

Names within half again of their own highest recorded position in at least 25 separate years of one published list.

Measured against each name's own peak rather than an absolute band, so a name that held around #300 for thirty years qualifies alongside one that held around #3. What it describes is steadiness near a name's own ceiling, not prominence.

60 names, selected from the 2,577 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• Olivia

  Within half again of its highest position (#1 in 2008) in 61 years among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Noah

  Within half again of its highest position (#1 in 2024) in 56 years among boys in Scotland, across a record running 2024–2025.

• James

  Within half again of its highest position (#218 in 1978) in 48 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Edward

  Within half again of its highest position (#51 in 1955) in 46 years among boys in New Zealand, across a record running 1954–2023.

• Ian

  Within half again of its highest position (#263 in 2025) in 44 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1947–2025.

• Joseph

  Within half again of its highest position (#32 in 2005) in 43 years among boys in New South Wales, Australia, across a record running 1952–2025.

• Victoria

  Within half again of its highest position (#77 in 2007) in 43 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Anthony

  Within half again of its highest position (#298 in 1949) in 42 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1946–2025.

• Frank

  Within half again of its highest position (#139 in 1966) in 41 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Mohammed

  Within half again of its highest position (#102 in 2002) in 41 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jane

  Within half again of its highest position (#59 in 1964) in 40 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Patrick

  Within half again of its highest position (#45 in 1967) in 40 years among boys in New Zealand, across a record running 1954–2020.

• Patricia

  Within half again of its highest position (#264 in 1966) in 39 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1946–2017.

• Timothy

  Within half again of its highest position (#413 in 1988) in 39 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1957–2019.

• Helen

  Within half again of its highest position (#93 in 1970) in 38 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Conan

  Within half again of its highest position (#185 in 1985) in 36 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1967–2025.

• Eleanor

  Within half again of its highest position (#93 in 1968) in 36 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Anne

  Within half again of its highest position (#1 in 1945) in 34 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Barbara

  Within half again of its highest position (#167 in 1960) in 34 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1946–2015.

• Isla

  Within half again of its highest position (#3 in 2014) in 34 years among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Kai

  Within half again of its highest position (#57 in 1976) in 34 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Phillip

  Within half again of its highest position (#35 in 1966) in 34 years among boys in New Zealand, across a record running 1954–1995.

• Sara

  Within half again of its highest position (#78 in 2011) in 34 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Brian

  Within half again of its highest position (#213 in 2004) in 33 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Mark

  Within half again of its highest position (#211 in 1970) in 33 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1950–2025.

• Peter

  Within half again of its highest position (#72 in 1987) in 32 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Glenn

  Within half again of its highest position (#92 in 1992) in 31 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Jeremy

  Within half again of its highest position (#48 in 1983) in 31 years among boys in New South Wales, Australia, across a record running 1970–2008.

• Alexander

  Within half again of its highest position (#12 in 2024) in 29 years among boys in Scotland, across a record running 2024–2024.

• Richard

  Within half again of its highest position (#9 in 1965) in 29 years among boys in New Zealand, across a record running 1954–1999.

• Amelia

  Within half again of its highest position (#7 in 2024) in 28 years among girls in Scotland, across a record running 2024–2024.

• Clodagh

  Within half again of its highest position (#34 in 2009) in 28 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Francis

  Within half again of its highest position (#188 in 1996) in 28 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Hamish

  Within half again of its highest position (#69 in 2024) in 28 years among boys in Scotland, across a record running 2024–2024.

• Harris

  Within half again of its highest position (#264 in 2005) in 28 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Jan

  Within half again of its highest position (#1 in 1946) in 28 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Kevin

  Within half again of its highest position (#141 in 1996) in 28 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Kristian

  Within half again of its highest position (#253 in 1977) in 28 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1974–2021.

• Marcus

  Within half again of its highest position (#99 in 1972) in 28 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Roman

  Within half again of its highest position (#196 in 1965) in 28 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1952–2025.

• Tobias

  Within half again of its highest position (#98 in 2018) in 28 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Adrian

  Within half again of its highest position (#190 in 2009) in 27 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Erik

  Within half again of its highest position (#235 in 1988) in 27 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1971–2025.

• Freya

  Within half again of its highest position (#1 in 2025) in 27 years among girls in Scotland, across a record running 2024–2025.

• Maia

  Within half again of its highest position (#176 in 2001) in 27 years among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Tor

  Within half again of its highest position (#10 in 1948) in 27 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Grace

  Within half again of its highest position (#321 in 1959) in 26 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1946–2025.

• Graham

  Within half again of its highest position (#52 in 1984) in 26 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2023.

• Jason

  Within half again of its highest position (#330 in 1972) in 26 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1969–2024.

• Joshua

  Within half again of its highest position (#255 in 2007) in 26 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1973–2025.

• Michael

  Within half again of its highest position (#2 in 1966) in 26 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Philip

  Within half again of its highest position (#68 in 2013) in 26 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1948–2025.

• Ronan

  Within half again of its highest position (#31 in 1980) in 26 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Tony

  Within half again of its highest position (#55 in 1969) in 26 years among boys in New South Wales, Australia, across a record running 1952–1987.

• Vanessa

  Within half again of its highest position (#97 in 1993) in 26 years among girls in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1965–2025.

• Annie

  Within half again of its highest position (#108 in 2016) in 25 years among girls in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Benjamin

  Within half again of its highest position (#50 in 2020) in 25 years among boys in Republic of Ireland, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Levi

  Within half again of its highest position (#107 in 2025) in 25 years among boys in England and Wales, across a record running 1996–2025.

• Melissa

  Within half again of its highest position (#141 in 2012) in 25 years among girls in Norway, across a record running 1964–2025.

• Paul

  Within half again of its highest position (#67 in 1946) in 25 years among boys in Norway, across a record running 1945–2024.