Namewise

Nils vs Sebastian

Nils 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Nils was ranked #4275 and Sebastian #47 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Nils was ranked #61 and Sebastian #53 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 1992, Nils was ranked #337 and Sebastian #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Nils and Sebastian over time

Nils and Sebastian appear together in 2 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Sebastian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nils 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.

Nils reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sebastian 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 1988, Sebastian moved ahead of Nils in Norway · Boys — #85 and #106 the year before became #80 and #76.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Nils fell — from #35 and #415 in 1968 to #61 and #53 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Nils and Sebastian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #61 and #53.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1968–2025

    Nils held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sebastian in 38.

    Highest recorded here: Nils #35 in 1968, Sebastian #6 in 2006.

    The order changed in 1988: Sebastian moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #85 and #106; by 1988 that had become #80 and #76.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Nils #61, Sebastian #53.

  • England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2025

    Nils held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sebastian in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Nils #1746 in 2001, Sebastian #28 in 2018.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Nils #4275, Sebastian #47.

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 Nils

Pairs where Nils shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Sebastian

Pairs where Sebastian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

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.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Nils, Sebastian
FieldNilsSebastian
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTraditionally 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.
OriginNot yet recordedLatin, from Greek
Pronunciation/səˈbæstʃən/
Syllables13
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #61 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded65/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Sebastian has a recorded origin (Latin, from Greek); Nils does not have one recorded yet.
  • Nils has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Sebastian.
  • A meaning is recorded for Sebastian; Nils doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Nils

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #26 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Norway, in 1947 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Sebastian

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1968–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1968–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys