Namewise

Christopher vs Robert

Christopher and Robertcompared 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 2003, Christopher was ranked #43 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2012, Christopher was ranked #99 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Christopher was ranked #203 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.

Christopher and Robert over time

Christopher and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 308 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Christopher 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 2004, Robert moved ahead of Christopher in England and Wales · Boys — #59 and #60 the year before became #65 and #60.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Christopher and Robert changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #239 and #93.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Christopher and Robert averaged 21.6 places apart, ending at #203 and #164.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Christopher and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #203 and #164.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys79 shared years, 1946–2025

    Christopher held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Robert in 56.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Robert #25 in 1974.

    The order changed in 2025: Christopher moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #444 and #348; by 2025 that had become #311 and #363.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Robert #363.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Christopher held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Robert in 60.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Robert #12 in 1978.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Robert #104.

  • New Zealand · Boys57 shared years, 1954–2012

    Christopher held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Robert in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Robert #5 in 1954.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Christopher #99, Robert #80.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1952–2003

    Christopher held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Robert in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Robert #3 in 1952.

    The order changed in 1972: Christopher moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #14 and #12; by 1972 that had become #9 and #11.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Christopher #43, Robert #95.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Christopher held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Robert in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2004: Robert moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #59 and #60; by 2004 that had become #65 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #203, Robert #164.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Christopher held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Robert in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Robert #35 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2020: Robert moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #103 and #110; by 2020 that had become #193 and #132.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Robert #93.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Christopher

Pairs where Christopher shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Robert

Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Christopher, Robert
FieldChristopherRobert
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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 Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce.
OriginGreekGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ//ˈɹɑb.əɹt/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)58/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Christopher is recorded with a Greek origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
  • Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robert.
  • Christopher's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Christopher

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2014

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #203 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Robert

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2003

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys