Patrick vs Rex
Patrick and Rexcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #16 and Rex #520 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Patrick was ranked #53 and Rex #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1960, Patrick was ranked #60 and Rex #98 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #120 and Rex #216 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Rex #382 among boys in Scotland.
Patrick and Rex over time
Patrick and Rex appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rex in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Patrick reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Rex 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Rex rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #66 and #1458 in 1996 to #120 and #216 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rex in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Rex #142 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #120, Rex #216.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2009–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rex in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #16 in 2013, Rex #516 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #16, Rex #520.
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 | Patrick | Rex |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Latin Patricius, meaning 'nobleman, patrician'. Adopted by Saint Patrick (originally named Sucat), a Romanized Briton who Christianized Ireland and became its patron saint. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #216 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Rex does not have one recorded yet.
- Patrick has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Rex.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Rex doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Rex a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Patrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #315 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Rex
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1960
Highest recorded position: #64 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1960).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #216 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys