Derek vs Phillip

Derek 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 1970, Derek was ranked #95 and Phillip #37 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Phillip #272 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #472 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.

Derek and Phillip over time

Derek and Phillip appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Phillip held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Derek in 1.

The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 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.

Longest-running competitions
Derek and Phillip were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 43 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #472 and #785.
Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.

List by list

Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #472, Phillip #785.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Phillip in 28.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Derek moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1407 and #1139; by 2024 that had become #1108 and #1460.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Phillip #1460.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1954–1970
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 17.
Highest recorded here: Derek #76 in 1958, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Derek #95, Phillip #37.

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 Derek

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

Mark vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #28 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #99 and #432.
Mark · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Robert vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #432.
Robert · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Andrew vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #432.
Andrew · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking
Christopher vs Derek
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #121 and #432.
Christopher · Derek · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Republic of Ireland ranking

Other comparisons involving Phillip

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

Adrian vs Phillip
Adrian and Phillip changed places 13 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1994, ending at #62 and #90.
Adrian · Phillip · 42 shared years, 1952–1994 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
See the 1994 New South Wales, Australia ranking
John vs Phillip
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — John #1 in 1952, Phillip #14 in 1952.
John · Phillip · 43 shared years, 1952–1994 · Peaked in the same years
See the 1952 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Richard vs Phillip
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Richard and Phillip averaged 8.8 places apart, ending at #81 and #90.
Richard · Phillip · 43 shared years, 1952–1994 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1994 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Ian vs Phillip
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ian and Phillip averaged 8.9 places apart, ending at #78 and #63.
Ian · Phillip · 38 shared years, 1952–1989 · Closest over the longest run
See the 1989 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Derek, Phillip
Field	Derek	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	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ	AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (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

Derek and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Derek

Popularity journey

First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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