Namewise

Bridget vs Philippa

Bridget and Philippacompared 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 1985, Bridget was ranked #96 and Philippa #98 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Bridget was ranked #213 and Philippa #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2018, Bridget was ranked #361 and Philippa #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Bridget was ranked #1007 and Philippa #377 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Bridget was ranked #790 and Philippa #541 among girls in Scotland.

Bridget and Philippa over time

Bridget and Philippa appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Bridget held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Philippa in 1.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Bridget reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Philippa 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Bridget and Philippa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #213 and #544.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Bridget #444 in 1998, Philippa #150 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 19682025

    Bridget held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Philippa in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #10 in 1968, Philippa #298 in 1983.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bridget #213, Philippa #544.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Bridget held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philippa in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #444 in 1998, Philippa #150 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Bridget #1007, Philippa #377.

  • New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 19671985

    Bridget held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Philippa in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Bridget #45 in 1974, Philippa #69 in 1978.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Bridget #96, Philippa #98.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Bridget, Philippa
FieldBridgetPhilippa
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn 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
OriginCeltic (Irish)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪt/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Bridget has a recorded origin (Celtic (Irish)); Philippa does not have one recorded yet.
  • Bridget has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Philippa.
  • A meaning is recorded for Bridget; Philippa doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Bridget

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1967 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Philippa

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1956

    First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1956–1986

    Highest recorded position: #69 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1956–1986).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls