Hugo vs Sebastian
Hugo and Sebastiancompared 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 2025, Hugo was ranked #18 and Sebastian #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Hugo was ranked #23 and Sebastian #52 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Hugo was ranked #42 and Sebastian #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Hugo was ranked #46 and Sebastian #47 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Hugo was ranked #101 and Sebastian #53 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Hugo was ranked #81 and Sebastian #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hugo was ranked #135 and Sebastian #116 among boys in Scotland.
Hugo and Sebastian over time
Hugo and Sebastian appear together in 6 published lists, across 173 years of shared records. Sebastian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Hugo in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sebastian reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Hugo 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 2025, Hugo moved ahead of Sebastian in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #28 and #22 the year before became #18 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hugo and Sebastian changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 2009 and 2025, ending at #18 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Hugo and Sebastian averaged 54.3 places apart, ending at #46 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Hugo and Sebastian were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #46 and #47.
List by list
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1968–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sebastian in 51.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #101 in 2025, Sebastian #6 in 2006.
The order changed in 1974: Sebastian moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #212 and #214; by 1974 that had become #224 and #189.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #101, Sebastian #53.
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1971–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Sebastian in 12.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #42 in 2025, Sebastian #80 in 2017.
The order changed in 2021: Hugo moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #99 and #97; by 2021 that had become #64 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #42, Sebastian #125.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sebastian in 29.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #45 in 2021, Sebastian #28 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #46, Sebastian #47.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2002–2024
Hugo held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sebastian in 15.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #67 in 2023, Sebastian #102 in 2015.
The order changed in 2021: Hugo moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #119 and #119; by 2021 that had become #150 and #192.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugo #81, Sebastian #154.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Hugo held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sebastian in 14.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #18 in 2025, Sebastian #20 in 2022.
The order changed in 2025: Hugo moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #28 and #22; by 2025 that had become #18 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #18, Sebastian #31.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 2009–2023
Hugo held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sebastian in 3.
Highest recorded here: Hugo #23 in 2023, Sebastian #52 in 2018.
The order changed in 2015: Hugo moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #74 and #59; by 2015 that had become #56 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hugo #23, Sebastian #52.
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 Hugo
Pairs where Hugo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Arthur vs Hugo
Arthur and Hugo changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1969 and 2025, ending at #57 and #42.
Arthur · Hugo · 49 shared years, 1969–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Archie vs Hugo
Archie and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Archie · Hugo · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlie vs Hugo
Charlie and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlie · Hugo · 32 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Elijah vs Hugo
Elijah and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Hugo · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Sebastian
Pairs where Sebastian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sebastian vs Taylor
In 1996 they stood at #114 and #121 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #47 and #507.
Sebastian · Taylor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sebastian vs Christian
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Christian fell — from #415 and #71 in 1968 to #53 and #131 in 2025.
Sebastian · Christian · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sebastian vs Eirik
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Eirik fell — from #415 and #72 in 1968 to #53 and #122 in 2025.
Sebastian · Eirik · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Finn vs Sebastian
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Finn fell — from #81 and #415 in 1968 to #153 and #53 in 2025.
Finn · Sebastian · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Hugo | Sebastian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'venerable' or 'revered' — from Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste' (a city in Asia Minor), whose own name derives from a Greek word used to translate the Roman imperial title Augustus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, from Greek |
| Pronunciation | /səˈbæstʃən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sebastian has a recorded origin (Latin, from Greek); Hugo does not have one recorded yet.
- Hugo has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sebastian.
- A meaning is recorded for Sebastian; Hugo doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Hugo
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #186 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2009–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2009–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #46 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sebastian
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #415 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys