Patrick vs Richard
Patrick and Richardcompared 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 2025, Patrick was ranked #25 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Patrick was ranked #37 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Patrick was ranked #53 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Patrick was ranked #69 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #134 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Patrick was ranked #332 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Patrick and Richard over time
Patrick and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 276 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Richard in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Patrick 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 1997, Patrick moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #66 and #62 the year before became #67 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Patrick and Richard averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #37 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #134 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #66 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #431.
List by list
Norway · Boys68 shared years, 1948–2023
Patrick held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Richard in 30.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #67 in 1989, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1986: Patrick moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #136 and #110; by 1986 that had become #124 and #134.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Patrick #332, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Richard #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Patrick held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Richard in 34.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #30 in 1994, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1986: Patrick moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #42 and #40; by 1986 that had become #40 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Patrick #37, Richard #98.
New Zealand · Boys46 shared years, 1954–1999
Patrick held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Richard in 41.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #45 in 1967, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order changed in 1995: Patrick moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #53 and #50; by 1995 that had become #55 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Patrick #69, Richard #81.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 1.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Patrick moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #66 and #62; by 1997 that had become #67 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #134, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Patrick held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #18 in 2003, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Patrick #53, Richard #311.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Latin | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Patrick and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- Patrick's recorded meaning differs from Richard's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Richard 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 #134 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys