Namewise

Andrew vs Richard

Andrew and Richardcompared 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 1997, Andrew was ranked #23 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1999, Andrew was ranked #36 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Andrew was ranked #177 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #334 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Richard #382 among boys in Norway.

Andrew and Richard over time

Andrew and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 269 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Richard in 1.

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.

Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Andrew 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 1961, Andrew moved ahead of Richard in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #17 and #16 the year before became #16 and #20.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Richard averaged 29.9 places apart, ending at #23 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrew and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #334 and #431.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

List by list

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

    Andrew held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Richard in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Richard #20 in 1986.

    The order changed in 1981: Andrew moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #30 and #29; by 1981 that had become #26 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Richard #232.

  • Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1946–2021

    Andrew held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Richard in 60.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Richard #80 in 1979.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Richard #382.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997

    Andrew held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Richard in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Richard #16 in 1960.

    The order changed in 1961: Andrew moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #17 and #16; by 1961 that had become #16 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Andrew #23, Richard #98.

  • New Zealand · Boys46 shared years, 1954–1999

    Andrew held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Richard in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Richard #9 in 1965.

    The order changed in 1961: Andrew moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #18 and #12; by 1961 that had become #9 and #11.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Andrew #36, Richard #81.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #334, Richard #431.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022

    Andrew held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Richard #77 in 1999.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Andrew #177, Richard #311.

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 Richard

Pairs where Richard 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 — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andrew, Richard
FieldAndrewRichard
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 Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
OriginGreek, biblicalGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈæn.dɹuː//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
Syllables22
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 #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
  • Andrew and Richard both have 2 syllables.
  • Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #219 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 recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys