Jacob vs Philip
Jacob and Philip compared 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 2022, Jacob was ranked #19 and Philip #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #27 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Jacob was ranked #31 and Philip #95 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #41 and Philip #549 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1988, Jacob was ranked #44 and Philip #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #59 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #62 and Philip #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jacob and Philip over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Jacob and Philip over time
Jacob and Philip appear together in 5 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Jacob held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Philip 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.
Philip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jacob 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 1985, Jacob moved ahead of Philip in New Zealand · Boys — #63 and #55 the year before became #55 and #60.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacob and Philip changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1948 and 2025, ending at #59 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jacob and Philip averaged 54.9 places apart, ending at #59 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacob and Philip were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #41 and #549.
List by list
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1948–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Philip in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #34 in 2017, Philip #68 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #59, Philip #91.
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1980–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Philip in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #37 in 2016, Philip #36 in 1980.
The order changed in 2007: Jacob moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #113 and #101; by 2007 that had become #94 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #62, Philip #309.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Philip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #4 in 2013, Philip #103 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #41, Philip #549.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Jacob held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Philip in 4.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #5 in 2017, Philip #51 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Jacob moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #91 and #80; by 2002 that had become #86 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jacob #19, Philip #311.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1977–1992
Jacob held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Philip in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #31 in 1992, Philip #44 in 1980.
The order changed in 1985: Jacob moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #63 and #55; by 1985 that had become #55 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jacob #31, Philip #95.
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 Jacob
Pairs where Jacob shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jacob vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #716.
Jacob · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #487.
Jacob · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2021 they were #16 and #433.
Jacob · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2022 they were #19 and #414.
Jacob · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Philip
Pairs where Philip shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kenneth vs Philip
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #327.
Kenneth · Philip · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Tommy vs Philip
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Tommy fell — from #268 and #341 in 1948 to #503 and #103 in 2024.
Tommy · Philip · 69 shared years, 1948–2024 · Mirrored each other
- Kjetil vs Philip
Over 64 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Kjetil fell — from #216 and #341 in 1948 to #420 and #89 in 2022.
Kjetil · Philip · 64 shared years, 1948–2022 · Mirrored each other
- Ronny vs Philip
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #283 and #341 in 1948 to #515 and #84 in 2011.
Ronny · Philip · 51 shared years, 1948–2011 · 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 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.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · 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 | Jacob | Philip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'holder of the heel' or 'supplanter', referencing the biblical account of Jacob being born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel. A less common alternate theory holds it may derive from a longer form meaning roughly 'may God protect'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪkəb/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #41 (2025) | Norway · Boys #91 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jacob has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
- Jacob and Philip both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jacob; Philip 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
Jacob
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #273 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #41 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Philip
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys