Colin vs Patrick
Colin 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, Colin was ranked #348 and Patrick #25 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Patrick #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Patrick #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Patrick #70 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Patrick #327 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Patrick #120 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Patrick over time
Colin and Patrick appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Colin 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 1977, Patrick moved ahead of Colin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #66 and #72 the year before became #74 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Patrick changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1983, ending at #90 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Patrick averaged 20.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Patrick were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #53.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Patrick #66 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 62.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Patrick #2 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Patrick #25.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1964–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Patrick in 33.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Patrick #68 in 2005.
The order changed in 2019: Colin moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #259 and #194; by 2019 that had become #215 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Patrick #327.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Patrick in 9.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Patrick #51 in 1955.
The order changed in 1977: Patrick moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #66 and #72; by 1977 that had become #74 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Patrick #53.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 29.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Patrick #66 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Patrick #120.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Patrick in 4.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Patrick #45 in 1967.
The order changed in 1975: Patrick moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #81 and #84; by 1975 that had become #99 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Patrick #70.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 21.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Patrick #18 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Patrick #30.
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 | Colin | Patrick |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Pádraig, Pádraic |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
- Colin and Patrick both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Colin 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
Colin
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1983
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #119 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