Andreas vs Paul
Andreas and Paulcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Andreas was ranked #84 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andreas was ranked #829 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andreas was ranked #552 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Andreas and Paul over time
Andreas and Paul appear together in 3 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Andreas 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1971, Andreas moved ahead of Paul in Norway · Boys — #102 and #96 the year before became #89 and #105.
- Longest-running competitions
Andreas and Paul were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 80 years, from 1945 to 2024, ending at #84 and #370.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andreas #358 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2024
Andreas held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Paul in 25.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #1 in 1991, Paul #67 in 1946.
The order changed in 1971: Andreas moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #102 and #96; by 1971 that had become #89 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andreas #84, Paul #370.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andreas held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Paul in 28.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #358 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Andreas moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #679 and #464; by 2024 that had become #552 and #586.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andreas #552, Paul #586.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1966–2025
Andreas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andreas #222 in 1968, Paul #4 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andreas #829, Paul #286.
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 | Andreas | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #96 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Andreas does not have one recorded yet.
- Andreas has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Andreas doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Andreas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #140 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #96 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys