Christopher vs Phillip
Christopher and Phillipcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1994, Christopher was ranked #13 and Phillip #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1995, Christopher was ranked #23 and Phillip #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Christopher was ranked #70 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #112 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Christopher and Phillip over time
Christopher and Phillip appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Phillip 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.
Phillip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Christopher 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 2009, Phillip moved ahead of Christopher in Norway · Boys — #131 and #150 the year before became #173 and #163.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Christopher and Phillip averaged 30.5 places apart, ending at #13 and #90.
- Mirrored each other
Over 42 shared years in Norway · Boys, Phillip rose about as far as Christopher fell — from #201 and #611 in 1972 to #311 and #268 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1952 to 1994, ending at #13 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1952–1994
Christopher held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Christopher #13, Phillip #90.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #112, Phillip #785.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1954–1995
Christopher held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Christopher #23, Phillip #100.
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1972–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Phillip in 16.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order changed in 2009: Phillip moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #131 and #150; by 2009 that had become #173 and #163.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Phillip #268.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Phillip #1460.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Christopher held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Christopher #70, Phillip #403.
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 | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher has a recorded origin (Greek); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Phillip.
- A meaning is recorded for Christopher; Phillip 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
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
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 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 recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys