Namewise

Harry vs Padhraig

Harry and Padhraigcompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2002, Harry was ranked #41 and Padhraig #281 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 1989, Harry was ranked #307 and Padhraig #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Harry and Padhraig over time

Harry and Padhraig appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Harry held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Padhraig in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Harry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Padhraig 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Harry and Padhraig changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1967 and 1989, ending at #307 and #278.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 19671989

    Harry held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Padhraig in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Harry #228 in 1979, Padhraig #248 in 1982.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1989: Harry #307, Padhraig #278.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Harry, Padhraig
FieldHarryPadhraig
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Henry — 'home ruler' — and functioning, in modern times, as a nickname for both Henry and names beginning with 'Har-'. During the Middle Ages in England, Henry was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation.Not yet recorded
OriginEnglish, medieval form/diminutive of HenryNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhæri/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025)Northern Ireland · Boys #281 (2002)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/10060/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Harry has a recorded origin (English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry); Padhraig does not have one recorded yet.
  • Harry and Padhraig both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Harry; Padhraig doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Harry

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #70 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

Padhraig

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1967

    First recorded at #265 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1967–1989

    Highest recorded position: #248 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1967–1989).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent1989

    Most recently recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1989.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys