Namewise

Andrew vs Paul

Andrew 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1998, Andrew was ranked #25 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1998, Andrew was ranked #32 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Paul #262 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #334 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.

Andrew and Paul over time

Andrew and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 271 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paul in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Andrew 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1970, Andrew moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #5 and #4 the year before became #4 and #5.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Andrew and Paul changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1998, ending at #32 and #86.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Paul averaged 19.9 places apart, ending at #25 and #86.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrew and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #334 and #602.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paul in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Paul #3 in 1978.

    The order changed in 1996: Andrew moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #22 and #21; by 1996 that had become #19 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Paul #286.

  • Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1946–2021

    Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 61.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Paul #67 in 1946.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Paul #262.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1998

    Andrew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Paul #4 in 1966.

    The order changed in 1970: Andrew moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #5 and #4; by 1970 that had become #4 and #5.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Andrew #25, Paul #86.

  • New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1998

    Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Paul in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Paul #3 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1972: Andrew moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #5 and #4; by 1972 that had become #4 and #5.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Andrew #32, Paul #86.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paul in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #334, Paul #602.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Paul #27 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Paul #278.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Andrew

Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Paul

Pairs where Paul shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andrew, Paul
FieldAndrewPaul
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe 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 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.
OriginGreek, biblicalLatin
Pronunciation/ˈæn.dɹuː//ˈpɔːl/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
  • Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
  • Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Paul'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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–2013

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Paul

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1998

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys