Adrian vs Phillip
Adrian and Phillipcompared 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 Phillip #40 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1994, Adrian was ranked #62 and Phillip #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Adrian was ranked #70 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #200 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Adrian was ranked #217 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Adrian and Phillip over time
Adrian and Phillip appear together in 6 published lists, across 193 years of shared records. Adrian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Phillip in 2.
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.
Phillip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Adrian in 2. 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 1992, Adrian moved ahead of Phillip in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #69 and #64 the year before became #69 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adrian and Phillip changed places 13 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1994, ending at #62 and #90.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Phillip averaged 27.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Adrian and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 42 years, from 1952 to 1994, ending at #62 and #90.
List by list
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1972–2025
Adrian held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #3 in 2005, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #70, Phillip #268.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #200, Phillip #785.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys42 shared years, 1952–1994
Adrian held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Phillip in 27.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order changed in 1992: Adrian moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #69 and #64; by 1992 that had become #69 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Adrian #62, Phillip #90.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adrian held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Phillip in 3.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Adrian moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #256 and #250; by 1999 that had become #258 and #290.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Phillip #1460.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1959–1986
Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 28.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #86, Phillip #40.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1997–2012
Adrian held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Phillip in 1.
Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Adrian #217, Phillip #403.
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 | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #70 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Adrian and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 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 recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys