Patrick vs Sean
Patrick and Sean compared 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 Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #26 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Patrick was ranked #43 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Patrick was ranked #87 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #134 and Sean #615 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2022, Patrick was ranked #240 and Sean #496 among boys in Norway.
Patrick and Sean over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Patrick and Sean over time
Patrick and Sean appear together in 6 published lists, across 256 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sean in 2.
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.
Patrick reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sean in 2. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Patrick moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2020 as Sean fell out of it to #68, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Patrick moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #115 and #99 the year before became #120 and #132.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Patrick and Sean changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1963 and 2007, ending at #43 and #85.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 44 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Patrick and Sean averaged 18.3 places apart, ending at #43 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Sean were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #134 and #615.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #66 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Sean in 27.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Sean #141.
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1965–2022
Patrick held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Sean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #67 in 1989, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Patrick #240, Sean #496.
New Zealand · Boys45 shared years, 1963–2007
Patrick held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sean in 29.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #45 in 1967, Sean #28 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Patrick #87, Sean #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys44 shared years, 1963–2007
Patrick held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sean in 16.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #30 in 1994, Sean #29 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Patrick #43, Sean #85.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sean in 12.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Patrick moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #115 and #99; by 2009 that had become #120 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #134, Sean #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sean in 16.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #18 in 2003, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order changed in 2020: Patrick moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #48 and #46; by 2020 that had become #32 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #26, Sean #48.
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 Patrick
Pairs where Patrick shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #2014.
Patrick · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Shane
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #1153.
Patrick · Shane · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #976.
Patrick · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Stephen
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #716.
Patrick · Stephen · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Sean
Pairs where Sean shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sean vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #38 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #785.
Sean · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #13.
Sean · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #31.
Sean · Edward · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Patrick | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Latin | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin, while Sean is recorded with a Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John origin.
- Patrick has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- Patrick's recorded meaning differs from Sean'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 Sean 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
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #615 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys