Patrick vs Sonny
Patrick and Sonnycompared 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 Sonny #28 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #26 and Sonny #74 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #83 and Sonny #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Sonny #44 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #120 and Sonny #51 among boys in England and Wales.
Patrick and Sonny over time
Patrick and Sonny appear together in 4 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 4 of those lists, and Sonny 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 2017, Sonny moved ahead of Patrick in England and Wales · Boys — #114 and #116 the year before became #120 and #114.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Patrick and Sonny averaged 52.0 places apart, ending at #120 and #51.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Sonny rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #66 and #237 in 1996 to #120 and #51 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sonny in 17.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Sonny #51 in 2024.
The order changed in 2017: Sonny moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #114 and #116; by 2017 that had become #120 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #120, Sonny #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Sonny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #15 in 2022, Sonny #28 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Sonny #28.
Northern Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 2006–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sonny in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #24 in 2006, Sonny #74 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #26, Sonny #74.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 2016–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sonny in 6.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #49 in 2016, Sonny #40 in 2025.
The order changed in 2020: Sonny moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #72 and #89; by 2020 that had become #74 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #83, Sonny #40.
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 | Sonny |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Sonny does not have one recorded yet.
- Patrick and Sonny both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Sonny doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Sonny 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
Sonny
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #237 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2001–2025
Highest recorded position: #28 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 2001–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys