Andrew vs Christopher
Andrew and Christophercompared 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 2011, Andrew was ranked #76 and Christopher #97 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Andrew was ranked #80 and Christopher #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Christopher #127 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Christopher #121 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Christopher #204 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Christopher #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Christopher #335 among boys in Norway.
Andrew and Christopher over time
Andrew and Christopher appear together in 6 published lists, across 298 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Christopher 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.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Christopher 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 2008, Andrew moved ahead of Christopher in New Zealand · Boys — #84 and #73 the year before became #74 and #93.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Christopher changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 2012, ending at #80 and #82.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Andrew and Christopher averaged 39.6 places apart, ending at #315 and #204.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Christopher were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 61 years, from 1952 to 2012, ending at #80 and #82.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Christopher #25 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Christopher in 18.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Christopher #13 in 1990.
The order changed in 2024: Andrew moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #146 and #110; by 2024 that had become #106 and #112.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Christopher #121.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys61 shared years, 1952–2012
Andrew held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Christopher in 27.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Christopher #2 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Andrew #80, Christopher #82.
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1946–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Christopher in 53.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Christopher #54 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Christopher #335.
New Zealand · Boys57 shared years, 1954–2011
Andrew held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Christopher in 19.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Christopher #4 in 1984.
The order changed in 2008: Andrew moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #84 and #73; by 2008 that had become #74 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Andrew #76, Christopher #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Christopher in 29.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Christopher #25 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Christopher #204.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Christopher in 9.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Christopher #10 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Christopher #239.
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 | Andrew | Christopher |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 58/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Christopher.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Christopher'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
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys