Caroline vs Patricia
Caroline 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, Caroline was ranked #56 and Patricia #85 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1979, Caroline was ranked #65 and Patricia #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Caroline was ranked #151 and Patricia #544 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Caroline was ranked #370 and Patricia #327 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Patricia #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #1271 and Patricia #1407 among girls in England and Wales.
Caroline and Patricia over time
Caroline and Patricia appear together in 5 published lists, across 180 years of shared records. Caroline held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Patricia 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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Caroline 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 1976, Caroline moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #75 and #71 the year before became #69 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caroline and Patricia changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1271 and #1407.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Caroline and Patricia averaged 37.7 places apart, ending at #56 and #85.
- Mirrored each other
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Girls, Caroline rose about as far as Patricia fell — from #404 and #362 in 1958 to #151 and #544 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Patricia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #1407.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #608.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Patricia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Patricia #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Patricia #608.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1958–2017
Caroline held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Patricia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #15 in 1990, Patricia #264 in 1966.
The order changed in 1967: Caroline moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #329 and #264; by 1967 that had become #320 and #573.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Caroline #151, Patricia #544.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Patricia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #1271, Patricia #1407.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1957–1978
Caroline held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Patricia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Patricia #11 in 1957.
The order changed in 1974: Caroline moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #74 and #73; by 1974 that had become #69 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Caroline #56, Patricia #85.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1957–1979
Caroline held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Patricia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Patricia #23 in 1957.
The order changed in 1976: Caroline moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #75 and #71; by 1976 that had become #69 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Caroline #65, Patricia #89.
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 | Caroline | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caroline has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Patricia.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls