Deborah vs Patricia
Deborah and Patriciacompared 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 · Girls
In 1978, Deborah was ranked #43 and Patricia #85 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1979, Deborah was ranked #83 and Patricia #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Deborah was ranked #419 and Patricia #419 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Deborah was ranked #550 and Patricia #536 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #580 and Patricia #1407 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Patricia #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Deborah and Patricia over time
Deborah and Patricia appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Patricia in 2.
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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Deborah in 1. 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 1955, Deborah moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #18 and #10 the year before became #12 and #16.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Patricia changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #580 and #1407.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Patricia averaged 19.9 places apart, ending at #83 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Patricia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #580 and #1407.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Patricia in 56.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Patricia #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Patricia #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Patricia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #580, Patricia #1407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1952–1979
Deborah held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Patricia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Patricia #8 in 1952.
The order changed in 1955: Deborah moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #18 and #10; by 1955 that had become #12 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Deborah #83, Patricia #89.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1954–1978
Deborah held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Patricia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Patricia #7 in 1955.
The order changed in 1958: Deborah moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #15 and #11; by 1958 that had become #6 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Deborah #43, Patricia #85.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1953–2016
Deborah held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Patricia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Patricia #271 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Deborah #550, Patricia #536.
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 | Deborah | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Patricia does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah and Patricia both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Patricia 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
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls 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 · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls