Patrick vs Terence
Patrick and Terencecompared 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 Terence #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Patrick was ranked #32 and Terence #392 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1964, Patrick was ranked #52 and Terence #75 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1964, Patrick was ranked #59 and Terence #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #120 and Terence #1951 among boys in England and Wales.
Patrick and Terence over time
Patrick and Terence appear together in 5 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Terence in 0.
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.
Terence 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 1954, Patrick moved ahead of Terence in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #52 and #48 the year before became #55 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Terence were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #25 and #577.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #66 in 1996, Terence #376 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Terence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Terence #54 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Terence #577.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Terence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Terence #376 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #120, Terence #1951.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1997–2020
Patrick held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Terence in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #18 in 2003, Terence #179 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Patrick #32, Terence #392.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1952–1964
Patrick held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Terence in 2.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #51 in 1955, Terence #48 in 1953.
The order changed in 1954: Patrick moved ahead. In 1953 they stood at #52 and #48; by 1954 that had become #55 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Patrick #59, Terence #98.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 1954–1964
Patrick held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Terence in 1.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #46 in 1956, Terence #57 in 1954.
The order changed in 1955: Patrick moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #60 and #57; by 1955 that had become #56 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Patrick #52, Terence #75.
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 | Terence |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Latin); Terence does not have one recorded yet.
- Patrick has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Terence.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Terence doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Terence 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
Terence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #48 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys