Nathaniel vs Robert
Nathaniel and Robertcompared 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 2012, Nathaniel was ranked #79 and Robert #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #191 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #278 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathaniel was ranked #223 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #144 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Nathaniel was ranked #170 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Nathaniel and Robert over time
Nathaniel and Robert appear together in 4 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nathaniel 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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Nathaniel 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 2024, Nathaniel moved ahead of Robert in England and Wales · Boys — #174 and #147 the year before became #144 and #151.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Nathaniel and Robert averaged 42.3 places apart, ending at #144 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Nathaniel and Robert were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 34 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #170 and #363.
List by list
Norway · Boys34 shared years, 1989–2025
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Robert in 14.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #109 in 2012, Robert #49 in 1989.
The order changed in 2007: Nathaniel moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #215 and #188; by 2007 that had become #142 and #231.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathaniel #170, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1978–2025
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 33.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #219 in 2020, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathaniel #223, Robert #104.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Robert in 28.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #114 in 1999, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Nathaniel moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #174 and #147; by 2024 that had become #144 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathaniel #144, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 28.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #188 in 2006, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathaniel #278, Robert #93.
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 | Nathaniel | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #170 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Nathaniel does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathaniel has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robert.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; Nathaniel 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
Nathaniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #326 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2014
Highest recorded position: #79 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 2003–2014).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #170 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys