Nicholas vs Seth
Nicholas and Sethcompared 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 2009, Nicholas was ranked #28 and Seth #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2011, Nicholas was ranked #94 and Seth #84 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #305 and Seth #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #191 and Seth #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nicholas was ranked #198 and Seth #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #211 and Seth #308 among boys in England and Wales.
Nicholas and Seth over time
Nicholas and Seth appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Nicholas held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Seth 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.
Nicholas reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Seth 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Seth moved ahead of Nicholas in New Zealand · Boys — #70 and #73 the year before became #74 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nicholas and Seth changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #211 and #308.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicholas held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Seth in 11.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #52 in 1996, Seth #90 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicholas #211, Seth #308.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2025
Nicholas held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Seth in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #125 in 2015, Seth #292 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicholas #198, Seth #577.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 2000–2024
Nicholas held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Seth in 18.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #104 in 2000, Seth #81 in 2015.
The order changed in 2006: Seth moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #149 and #205; by 2006 that had become #223 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicholas #305, Seth #108.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2000–2011
Nicholas held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Seth in 4.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #24 in 2000, Seth #51 in 2005.
The order changed in 2009: Seth moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #70 and #73; by 2009 that had become #74 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Nicholas #94, Seth #84.
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 | Nicholas | Seth |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicholas has a recorded origin (Greek); Seth does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicholas has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Seth.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicholas; Seth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Seth
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #441 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2000–2011
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in New Zealand, in 2005 (recorded 2000–2011).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys