Gary vs Phillip
Gary 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 1981, Gary was ranked #94 and Phillip #40 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1984, Gary was ranked #88 and Phillip #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Gary was ranked #311 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #785 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gary was ranked #2671 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Gary and Phillip over time
Gary and Phillip appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Gary held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Phillip in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Phillip 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 1969, Phillip moved ahead of Gary in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #33 and #34 the year before became #38 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gary and Phillip changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2671 and #1460.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Gary and Phillip averaged 16.1 places apart, ending at #88 and #45.
- Longest-running competitions
Gary and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #88 and #45.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gary #147 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gary #25 in 1991, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #785, Phillip #785.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1952–1984
Gary held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Phillip in 17.
Highest recorded here: Gary #8 in 1952, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order changed in 1969: Phillip moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #33 and #34; by 1969 that had become #38 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Gary #88, Phillip #45.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gary held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gary #147 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order changed in 2010: Phillip moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #576 and #617; by 2010 that had become #897 and #589.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gary #2671, Phillip #1460.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1954–1981
Gary held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Phillip in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gary #19 in 1956, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1970: Phillip moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #34 and #40; by 1970 that had become #48 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Gary #94, Phillip #40.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Gary held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gary #57 in 1997, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Gary #311, Phillip #403.
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 | Gary | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An English surname originally a short form of Norman given names beginning with the Old German element 'ger' ('spear'). Adopted as a stage name by actor Gary Cooper, after Gary, Indiana. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡæɹ.i/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gary has a recorded origin (Germanic (surname origin)); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Gary and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Gary; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gary
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #8 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 recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2671 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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