Bernard vs Paul
Bernard 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1965, Bernard was ranked #94 and Paul #3 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1966, Bernard was ranked #89 and Paul #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Bernard was ranked #237 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bernard was ranked #339 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bernard was ranked #509 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bernard was ranked #613 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Bernard and Paul over time
Bernard and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Bernard in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 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 2021, Bernard moved ahead of Paul in Norway · Boys — #397 and #351 the year before became #200 and #262.
- Longest-running competitions
Bernard and Paul were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1958 to 2024, ending at #237 and #370.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Bernard #163 in 1998, Paul #27 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Bernard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 62.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #33 in 1964, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bernard #509, Paul #286.
Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1958–2024
Bernard held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paul in 27.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #200 in 2021, Paul #85 in 1958.
The order changed in 2021: Bernard moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #397 and #351; by 2021 that had become #200 and #262.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bernard #237, Paul #370.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bernard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #613 in 2024, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bernard #613, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1997–2024
Bernard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 19.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #163 in 1998, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bernard #339, Paul #278.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1952–1966
Bernard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 15.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #70 in 1953, Paul #4 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Bernard #89, Paul #4.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1965
Bernard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 10.
Highest recorded here: Bernard #79 in 1957, Paul #3 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Bernard #94, Paul #3.
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 | Bernard | 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 | /ˈpɔːl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #277 (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); Bernard does not have one recorded yet.
- Bernard has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Bernard 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
Bernard
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #84 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #277 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