Colin vs Phillip
Colin 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Phillip #44 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Phillip #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Colin was ranked #119 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Colin was ranked #273 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #302 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colin was ranked #1000 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Colin and Phillip over time
Colin and Phillip appear together in 6 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Colin 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 1966, Phillip moved ahead of Colin in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #41 the year before became #46 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Colin and Phillip changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1000 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Phillip averaged 17.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Colin and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1952 to 1983, ending at #90 and #47.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #302, Phillip #785.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983
Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 32.
Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Phillip #47.
Norway · Boys32 shared years, 1972–2025
Colin held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Phillip in 26.
Highest recorded here: Colin #119 in 2025, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #119, Phillip #268.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 20.
Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Colin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1610 and #1139; by 2024 that had become #1000 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colin #1000, Phillip #1460.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975
Colin held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Phillip in 10.
Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1966: Phillip moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #39 and #41; by 1966 that had become #46 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Phillip #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Colin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Colin #273, 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 | Colin | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #119 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Colin and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
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
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