Gerard vs Peter
Gerard and Peter compared 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 1966, Gerard was ranked #84 and Peter #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1965, Gerard was ranked #96 and Peter #4 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Gerard was ranked #348 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Gerard was ranked #305 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Gerard was ranked #727 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Gerard was ranked #1538 and Peter #287 among boys in England and Wales.
Gerard and Peter over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Gerard and Peter over time
Gerard and Peter appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gerard 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.
Peter reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gerard 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 1979, Peter moved ahead of Gerard in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #17 and #19 the year before became #22 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Gerard and Peter averaged 51.6 places apart, ending at #348 and #152.
- Longest-running competitions
Gerard and Peter were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1538 and #287.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gerard #462 in 1997, Peter #59 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Gerard held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Peter in 48.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #10 in 1964, Peter #13 in 1964.
The order changed in 1979: Peter moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #17 and #19; by 1979 that had become #22 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gerard #348, Peter #152.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gerard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 30.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #462 in 1997, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gerard #1538, Peter #287.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Gerard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 28.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #57 in 1997, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gerard #305, Peter #164.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1954–1965
Gerard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #84 in 1956, Peter #1 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Gerard #96, Peter #4.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1956–1966
Gerard held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 9.
Highest recorded here: Gerard #84 in 1966, Peter #1 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Gerard #84, Peter #3.
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 Gerard
Pairs where Gerard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- James vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4 and #348.
James · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Thomas vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #16 and #348.
Thomas · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michael vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #348.
Michael · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Peter
Pairs where Peter shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Peter vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #2014.
Peter · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Stephen
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #716.
Peter · Stephen · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Frode
In 1945 they stood at #106 and #116 in Norway · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2008 they were #127 and #551.
Peter · Frode · 63 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Peter vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #59 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #287 and #615.
Peter · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1960s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1960 and 1969.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Gerard | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Combines Old German 'ger' (spear) with 'hart' (hard, firm, brave) — 'spear-brave'. Borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy; brought to Britain by the Normans. | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Germanic | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛɹ.əd/ | /ˈpit.əɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gerard is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin.
- Gerard and Peter both have 2 syllables.
- Gerard's recorded meaning differs from Peter's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gerard
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #87 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: #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #287 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys