Bridget vs Patricia
Bridget and Patriciacompared 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 · Girls
In 1978, Bridget was ranked #70 and Patricia #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Patricia #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Bridget was ranked #361 and Patricia #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bridget was ranked #1007 and Patricia #1353 among girls in England and Wales.
Bridget and Patricia over time
Bridget and Patricia appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Patricia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Bridget 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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Bridget 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bridget and Patricia changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1007 and #1353.
- Longest-running competitions
Bridget and Patricia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #608.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bridget #444 in 1998, Patricia #443 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #608.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Bridget held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Patricia in 32.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #7 in 1967, Patricia #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Patricia #608.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bridget held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Patricia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Bridget moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #709 and #640; by 2022 that had become #762 and #963.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #1007, Patricia #1353.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1967–1978
Bridget held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Patricia in 5.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #45 in 1974, Patricia #38 in 1968.
The order changed in 1973: Bridget moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #87 and #80; by 1973 that had become #62 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Bridget #70, Patricia #85.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2018
Bridget held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Patricia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Bridget #282 in 2009, Patricia #197 in 1998.
The order changed in 2009: Bridget moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #331 and #284; by 2009 that had become #282 and #419.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Bridget #361, Patricia #434.
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 | Bridget | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of the Irish Brighid, with roots in old Celtic 'Brigantī' ('the exalted one'). In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom; the name is also associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland's patron saint, and with the Scandinavian Birgitta (Saint Birgitta of Sweden). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Celtic (Irish) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bridget has a recorded origin (Celtic (Irish)); Patricia does not have one recorded yet.
- Bridget has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Patricia.
- A meaning is recorded for Bridget; Patricia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bridget
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls