Filip vs Niels
Filip and Nielscompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Filip was ranked #27 and Niels #471 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2016, Filip was ranked #155 and Niels #4023 among boys in England and Wales.
Filip and Niels over time
Filip and Niels appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Filip held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niels in 0.
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.
Niels reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Filip in none. 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 37 shared years in Norway · Boys, Filip rose about as far as Niels fell — from #489 and #273 in 1962 to #27 and #471 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Filip and Niels were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 37 years, from 1962 to 2025, ending at #27 and #471.
List by list
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1962–2025
Filip held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Niels in 5.
Highest recorded here: Filip #20 in 2018, Niels #273 in 1962.
The order changed in 1979: Filip moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #514 and #491; by 1979 that had become #276 and #471.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Filip #27, Niels #471.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2016
Filip held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Niels in 1.
Highest recorded here: Filip #155 in 2010, Niels #1642 in 1998.
The order changed in 2000: Filip moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #2901 and #1642; by 2000 that had become #1096 and #3036.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Filip #155, Niels #4023.
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 Filip
Pairs where Filip shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Filip vs Nils
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Boys, Filip rose about as far as Nils fell — from #489 and #28 in 1962 to #27 and #61 in 2025.
Filip · Nils · 54 shared years, 1962–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Filip
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Boys, Filip rose about as far as Peter fell — from #98 and #489 in 1962 to #174 and #27 in 2025.
Peter · Filip · 54 shared years, 1962–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Filip vs Steffen
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Boys, Filip rose about as far as Steffen fell — from #489 and #243 in 1962 to #27 and #519 in 2025.
Filip · Steffen · 51 shared years, 1962–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Kim vs Filip
Over 50 shared years in Norway · Boys, Filip rose about as far as Kim fell — from #189 and #489 in 1962 to #370 and #34 in 2023.
Kim · Filip · 50 shared years, 1962–2023 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Filip | Niels |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'lover of horses' or 'horse-friend'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, via Philip; Filip is the Scandinavian/Slavic form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfi.lip/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #27 (2025) | Norway · Boys #471 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Filip has a recorded origin (Greek, via Philip; Filip is the Scandinavian/Slavic form); Niels does not have one recorded yet.
- Filip has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Niels.
- A meaning is recorded for Filip; Niels doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Filip
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #489 among boys in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in Norway, in 2020 (recorded 1962–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #342 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Niels
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #233 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #201 among boys in Norway, in 1959 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #471 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys