Namewise

Adrian vs Phelim

Adrian and Phelimcompared 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2015, Adrian was ranked #173 and Phelim #615 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2009, Adrian was ranked #190 and Phelim #4527 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2017, Adrian was ranked #250 and Phelim #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.

Adrian and Phelim over time

Adrian and Phelim appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Phelim in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Phelim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Adrian 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Adrian and Phelim were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 44 years, from 1964 to 2015, ending at #173 and #615.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 19642015

    Adrian held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Phelim in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Phelim #164 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Adrian #173, Phelim #615.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 19982017

    Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Phelim in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #165 in 2010, Phelim #218 in 2001.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Adrian #250, Phelim #415.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Adrian, Phelim
FieldAdrianPhelim
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #70 (2025)Northern Ireland · Boys #415 (2017)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Phelim does not have one recorded yet.
  • Adrian and Phelim both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Phelim doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Adrian

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1958–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Phelim

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #164 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2015

    Highest recorded position: #164 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2015).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2017

    Most recently recorded at #415 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2017.

    Northern Ireland · Boys