Francis vs Peter
Francis and Petercompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1961, Francis was ranked #93 and Peter #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Francis was ranked #93 and Peter #4 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Francis was ranked #309 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #278 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Francis was ranked #316 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #352 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Francis was ranked #193 and Peter #286 among boys in England and Wales.
Francis and Peter over time
Francis and Peter appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Francis in 0.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Francis moved ahead of Peter in England and Wales · Boys — #238 and #196 the year before became #196 and #210.
- Longest-running competitions
Francis and Peter were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #309 and #152.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Francis #188 in 1996, Peter #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 62.
Highest recorded here: Francis #16 in 1964, Peter #13 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #309, Peter #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Francis held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Peter in 23.
Highest recorded here: Francis #188 in 1996, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 2019: Francis moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #238 and #196; by 2019 that had become #196 and #210.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #193, Peter #286.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 28.
Highest recorded here: Francis #100 in 1997, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #278, Peter #164.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1960–2025
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 26.
Highest recorded here: Francis #316 in 2025, Peter #72 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #316, Peter #174.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961
Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 10.
Highest recorded here: Francis #71 in 1954, Peter #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Francis #93, Peter #2.
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 | Francis | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈpit.əɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #309 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Peter has a recorded origin (Greek/Aramaic, biblical); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
- Francis and Peter both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Peter; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Francis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #74 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #316 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Peter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys