Helen vs Patricia
Helen and Patriciacompared 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 · Girls
In 1978, Helen was ranked #35 and Patricia #85 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Helen was ranked #84 and Patricia #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Helen was ranked #440 and Patricia #327 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #381 and Patricia #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Helen was ranked #400 and Patricia #544 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Patricia #1407 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Patricia over time
Helen and Patricia appear together in 6 published lists, across 215 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Patricia in 0.
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.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Helen 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1953, Helen moved ahead of Patricia in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #9 and #8 the year before became #9 and #10.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Helen and Patricia changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #705 and #1407.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Helen and Patricia averaged 12.0 places apart, ending at #84 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Patricia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #1407.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #608.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1946–2017
Helen held the stronger position in 63 of those years, Patricia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Patricia #264 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Helen #400, Patricia #544.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Patricia in 31.
Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Patricia #8 in 1965.
The order changed in 2008: Helen moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #241 and #222; by 2008 that had become #237 and #291.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #381, Patricia #608.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Patricia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Patricia #1407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1952–1982
Helen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Patricia in 1.
Highest recorded here: Helen #9 in 1952, Patricia #8 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Helen moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #9 and #8; by 1953 that had become #9 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Helen #84, Patricia #90.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1954–1978
Helen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Patricia in 5.
Highest recorded here: Helen #12 in 1958, Patricia #7 in 1955.
The order changed in 1960: Helen moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #19 and #14; by 1960 that had become #17 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 1978: Helen #35, Patricia #85.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2013
Helen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Patricia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Helen #138 in 1998, Patricia #139 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Helen #440, Patricia #327.
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 | Helen | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, meaning disputed | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Patricia does not have one recorded yet.
- Helen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Patricia.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Patricia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Patricia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Helen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #149 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls