Harry vs Raphael
Harry and Raphaelcompared 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 2021, Harry was ranked #10 and Raphael #326 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #20 and Raphael #158 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #25 and Raphael #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #31 and Raphael #268 among boys in Scotland.
Harry and Raphael over time
Harry and Raphael appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Harry held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Raphael 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 1990, Harry moved ahead of Raphael in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #307 and #307 the year before became #193 and #323.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harry and Raphael changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #25 and #468.
- Longest-running competitions
Harry and Raphael were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 44 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #25 and #468.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys44 shared years, 1965–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Raphael in 9.
Highest recorded here: Harry #6 in 2018, Raphael #170 in 1965.
The order changed in 1990: Harry moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #307 and #307; by 1990 that had become #193 and #323.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #25, Raphael #468.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Raphael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #1 in 2011, Raphael #156 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #20, Raphael #158.
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 | Harry | Raphael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A 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 |
| Origin | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæri/ | 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, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Norway · Boys #415 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harry has a recorded origin (English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry); Raphael does not have one recorded yet.
- Harry and Raphael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Harry; Raphael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Harry
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Raphael
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #156 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys