Darryl vs Patrick
Darryl 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 2017, Darryl was ranked #610 and Patrick #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Darryl was ranked #398 and Patrick #41 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1971, Darryl was ranked #98 and Patrick #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1975, Darryl was ranked #97 and Patrick #70 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2023, Darryl was ranked #4107 and Patrick #130 among boys in England and Wales.
Darryl and Patrick over time
Darryl and Patrick appear together in 5 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Darryl in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Darryl and Patrick changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1957 and 1975, ending at #97 and #70.
- Longest-running competitions
Darryl and Patrick were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 40 years, from 1966 to 2017, ending at #610 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darryl #335 in 1996, Patrick #66 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1966–2017
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 40.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #156 in 1994, Patrick #2 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Darryl #610, Patrick #17.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1996–2023
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 26.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #335 in 1996, Patrick #66 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Darryl #4107, Patrick #130.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–1971
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 17.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #66 in 1963, Patrick #51 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Darryl #98, Patrick #60.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1957–1975
Darryl held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Patrick in 15.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #58 in 1963, Patrick #45 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Darryl #97, Patrick #70.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2014
Darryl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patrick in 15.
Highest recorded here: Darryl #143 in 1997, Patrick #18 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Darryl #398, Patrick #41.
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 | Darryl | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4107 (2023) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Darryl does not have one recorded yet.
- Darryl and Patrick both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Darryl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Darryl 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
Darryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #90 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 recorded1957–1975
Highest recorded position: #58 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1957–1975).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4107 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · 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