Christopher vs Patrick
Christopher and Patrickcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Patrick #25 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Patrick #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Christopher was ranked #94 and Patrick #52 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2012, Christopher was ranked #99 and Patrick #97 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Patrick #120 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Patrick #125 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Patrick #327 among boys in Norway.
Christopher and Patrick over time
Christopher and Patrick appear together in 6 published lists, across 307 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Patrick 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.
Christopher reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Patrick 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 2013, Patrick moved ahead of Christopher in England and Wales · Boys — #112 and #127 the year before became #132 and #126.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Christopher and Patrick changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1948 and 2025, ending at #311 and #327.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Christopher and Patrick averaged 32.9 places apart, ending at #204 and #120.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Patrick were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 63 years, from 1952 to 2014, ending at #94 and #52.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Patrick #66 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #13 and #19 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #239 and #26.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1948–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Patrick in 34.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Patrick #67 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Patrick #327.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys63 shared years, 1952–2014
Christopher held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Patrick in 14.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Patrick #30 in 1994.
The order changed in 2001: Patrick moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #28 and #38; by 2001 that had become #36 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Christopher #94, Patrick #52.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 62.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Patrick #2 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Patrick #25.
New Zealand · Boys56 shared years, 1954–2012
Christopher held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Patrick in 2.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Patrick #45 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Christopher #99, Patrick #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Patrick in 12.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Patrick #66 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Patrick moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #112 and #127; by 2013 that had become #132 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Patrick #120.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Patrick in 23.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Patrick #18 in 2003.
The order changed in 2001: Patrick moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #17 and #23; by 2001 that had become #24 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Patrick #26.
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 | Christopher | Patrick |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | From Latin Patricius, meaning 'nobleman, patrician'. Adopted by Saint Patrick (originally named Sucat), a Romanized Briton who Christianized Ireland and became its patron saint. |
| Origin | Greek | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Pádraig, Pádraic |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin, while Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Patrick.
- Christopher's recorded meaning differs from Patrick's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Christopher a "medium" Data Confidence level and Patrick a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Patrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #315 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys