Namewise

Henry vs Peter

Henry and Petercompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Henry was ranked #13 and Peter #287 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Henry was ranked #45 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2007, Henry was ranked #49 and Peter #94 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Henry was ranked #50 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2006, Henry was ranked #65 and Peter #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Henry was ranked #76 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Henry was ranked #95 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.

Henry and Peter over time

Henry and Peter appear together in 6 published lists, across 235 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Henry in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Henry 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 2005, Henry moved ahead of Peter in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #72 and #69 the year before became #64 and #79.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Henry and Peter changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #50 and #174.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Henry and Peter averaged 44.1 places apart, ending at #49 and #94.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henry rose about as far as Peter fell — from #102 and #106 in 1945 to #50 and #174 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Henry and Peter were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #13 and #287.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Henry #60 in 1964, Peter #13 in 1964.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #58 and #59 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #287.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025

    Henry held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Peter in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #50 in 2025, Peter #72 in 1987.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Henry #50, Peter #174.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Henry held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Peter in 52.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #60 in 1964, Peter #13 in 1964.

    The order changed in 2016: Henry moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #83 and #75; by 2016 that had become #75 and #102.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Henry #76, Peter #152.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Henry held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Peter in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #10 in 2021, Peter #59 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Henry #13, Peter #287.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Henry held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Peter in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #22 in 2023, Peter #22 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2013: Henry moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #94 and #85; by 2013 that had become #62 and #73.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Henry #45, Peter #164.

  • New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1954–2007

    Henry held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Peter in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #49 in 2007, Peter #2 in 1961.

    The order changed in 1996: Henry moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #72 and #53; by 1996 that had become #55 and #59.

    Most recent shared year, 2007: Henry #49, Peter #94.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys12 shared years, 1993–2006

    Henry held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Peter in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Henry #64 in 2005, Peter #38 in 1993.

    The order changed in 2005: Henry moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #72 and #69; by 2005 that had become #64 and #79.

    Most recent shared year, 2006: Henry #65, Peter #83.

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 Henry

Pairs where Henry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Peter

Pairs where Peter shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Henry, Peter
FieldHenryPeter
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningHome ruler, estate ruler.From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon.
OriginGermanic, via Old French HenriGreek/Aramaic, biblical
Pronunciation/ˈhɛnɹi//ˈpit.əɹ/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesHarry, Hal, Heinrich, HenriNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #6 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Henry is recorded with a Germanic, via Old French Henri origin, while Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin.
  • Henry and Peter both have 2 syllables.
  • Henry'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, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Henry a "high" Data Confidence level and Peter a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Henry

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #102 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 recorded1993–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 1993–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #13 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Peter

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2006

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #287 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys