Gordon vs Phillip
Gordon 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1967, Gordon was ranked #98 and Phillip #32 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1967, Gordon was ranked #96 and Phillip #47 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1999, Gordon was ranked #277 and Phillip #220 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Gordon was ranked #749 and Phillip #572 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Gordon was ranked #5137 and Phillip #1226 among boys in England and Wales.
Gordon and Phillip over time
Gordon and Phillip appear together in 4 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Phillip held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Gordon 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.
Phillip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Gordon 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gordon and Phillip changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2018, ending at #749 and #572.
- Longest-running competitions
Gordon and Phillip were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #5137 and #1226.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gordon #661 in 1997, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1964–2018
Gordon held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Phillip in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #83 in 1976, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order changed in 1997: Phillip moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #261 and #295; by 1997 that had become #209 and #209.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Gordon #749, Phillip #572.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gordon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 30.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #661 in 1997, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gordon #5137, Phillip #1226.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys16 shared years, 1952–1967
Gordon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 16.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #58 in 1952, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Gordon #98, Phillip #32.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1954–1967
Gordon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 14.
Highest recorded here: Gordon #51 in 1956, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Gordon #96, Phillip #47.
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 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Side by side
| Field | Gordon | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5137 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gordon and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gordon
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #58 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 recorded1954–1967
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1967).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5137 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #1226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys