Ian vs Phillip
Ian and Phillipcompared 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 · Boys
In 1985, Ian was ranked #79 and Phillip #45 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1989, Ian was ranked #78 and Phillip #63 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2009, Ian was ranked #262 and Phillip #390 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Ian was ranked #263 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ian was ranked #275 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ian was ranked #535 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Ian and Phillip over time
Ian and Phillip appear together in 5 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Ian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Phillip in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Phillip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ian in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Phillip moved into the top 50 at #48 in 1982 as Ian fell out of it to #58, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Phillip moved ahead of Ian in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #49 and #52 the year before became #58 and #48.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ian and Phillip changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1989, ending at #78 and #63.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ian and Phillip averaged 8.9 places apart, ending at #78 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Ian and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 38 years, from 1952 to 1989, ending at #78 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ian #138 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Ian held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ian #24 in 1990, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ian #275, Phillip #785.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1972–2025
Ian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Phillip in 33.
Highest recorded here: Ian #263 in 2025, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ian #263, Phillip #268.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys38 shared years, 1952–1989
Ian held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Phillip in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ian #9 in 1954, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order changed in 1982: Phillip moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #49 and #52; by 1982 that had become #58 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Ian #78, Phillip #63.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1954–1985
Ian held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Phillip in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ian #10 in 1955, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1972: Phillip moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #42 and #45; by 1972 that had become #53 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ian #79, Phillip #45.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ian held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ian #138 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ian #535, Phillip #1460.
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 | Ian | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | An Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Iain, itself from Latin Iohannes — ultimately from the same Hebrew root as John. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiː.ən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ian has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Scottish Gaelic transmission); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Ian has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Phillip.
- A meaning is recorded for Ian; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ian
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #351 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1989
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1989).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #263 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys