Adrian vs Peter
Adrian and Petercompared 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 1986, Adrian was ranked #86 and Peter #30 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Adrian was ranked #92 and Peter #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #70 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Adrian was ranked #249 and Peter #132 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Peter #286 among boys in England and Wales.
Adrian and Peter over time
Adrian and Peter appear together in 6 published lists, across 258 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Adrian in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Peter reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Adrian 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1985, Adrian moved ahead of Peter in Norway · Boys — #157 and #98 the year before became #100 and #104.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Peter averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #92 and #60.
- Mirrored each other
Over 65 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adrian rose about as far as Peter fell — from #449 and #104 in 1958 to #70 and #174 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Peter were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1952 to 2003, ending at #92 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #153 in 1997, Peter #22 in 1998.
List by list
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1958–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Peter in 24.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #3 in 2005, Peter #72 in 1987.
The order changed in 1985: Adrian moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #157 and #98; by 1985 that had become #100 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #70, Peter #174.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 62.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Peter #13 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Peter #152.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1952–2003
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 50.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Peter #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Adrian #92, Peter #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Peter in 28.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Adrian moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #262 and #250; by 2024 that had become #244 and #286.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Peter #286.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1959–1986
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 28.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Peter #1 in 1959.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #86, Peter #30.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2023
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 24.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adrian #249, Peter #132.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Adrian | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV. | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/ | /ˈpit.əɹ/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian is recorded with a Latin origin, while Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin.
- Adrian and Peter both have 2 syllables.
- Adrian's recorded meaning differs from Peter's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Adrian
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #87 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 recorded1958–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Peter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys