Patrick vs Ronald
Patrick and Ronaldcompared 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 2012, Patrick was ranked #21 and Ronald #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1972, Patrick was ranked #71 and Ronald #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1969, Patrick was ranked #73 and Ronald #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Patrick was ranked #77 and Ronald #569 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #120 and Ronald #796 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Ronald #619 among boys in Scotland.
Patrick and Ronald over time
Patrick and Ronald appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ronald in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ronald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1965, Patrick moved ahead of Ronald in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #59 and #54 the year before became #54 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Patrick and Ronald changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1969, ending at #73 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Patrick and Ronald averaged 17.2 places apart, ending at #71 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Ronald were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 34 years, from 1948 to 2000, ending at #77 and #569.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #46 in 1956, Ronald #36 in 1954.
List by list
Norway · Boys34 shared years, 1948–2000
Patrick held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Ronald in 20.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #72 in 1991, Ronald #140 in 1952.
The order changed in 1977: Patrick moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #307 and #284; by 1977 that had become #283 and #428.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Patrick #77, Ronald #569.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1964–2012
Patrick held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Ronald #89 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Patrick #21, Ronald #718.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ronald in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Ronald #564 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #120, Ronald #796.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1972
Patrick held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ronald in 13.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #51 in 1955, Ronald #24 in 1952.
The order changed in 1965: Patrick moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #59 and #54; by 1965 that had become #54 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Patrick #71, Ronald #88.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1954–1969
Patrick held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Ronald in 4.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #46 in 1956, Ronald #36 in 1954.
The order changed in 1961: Patrick moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #60 and #59; by 1961 that had become #58 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Patrick #73, Ronald #98.
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 | Ronald |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #619 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Ronald does not have one recorded yet.
- Patrick and Ronald both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Ronald doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Ronald 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
Ronald
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #202 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #796 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys