Nathaniel vs Sebastian
Nathaniel 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 2019, Nathaniel was ranked #96 and Sebastian #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #144 and Sebastian #45 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Nathaniel was ranked #170 and Sebastian #53 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Nathaniel was ranked #91 and Sebastian #59 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #191 and Sebastian #116 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathaniel was ranked #223 and Sebastian #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nathaniel was ranked #278 and Sebastian #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Nathaniel and Sebastian over time
Nathaniel and Sebastian appear together in 4 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Sebastian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nathaniel in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2007, Sebastian moved ahead of Nathaniel in Northern Ireland · Boys — #188 and #282 the year before became #357 and #166.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nathaniel and Sebastian changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1982 and 2025, ending at #223 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Nathaniel and Sebastian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 34 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #170 and #53.
List by list
Norway · Boys34 shared years, 1989–2025
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sebastian in 34.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #109 in 2012, Sebastian #6 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathaniel #170, Sebastian #53.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1982–2025
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sebastian in 26.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #219 in 2020, Sebastian #80 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathaniel #223, Sebastian #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sebastian in 29.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #114 in 1999, Sebastian #28 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathaniel #144, Sebastian #45.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1999–2024
Nathaniel held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sebastian in 19.
Highest recorded here: Nathaniel #188 in 2006, Sebastian #102 in 2015.
The order changed in 2007: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #188 and #282; by 2007 that had become #357 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathaniel #278, Sebastian #154.
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 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 2024 they were #45 and #385.
Sebastian · Taylor · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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
Side by side
| Field | Nathaniel | 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 | 3 | 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 | Norway · Boys #170 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Nathaniel does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathaniel and Sebastian both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sebastian; 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
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 #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys