Paul vs Simon
Paul and Simoncompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Paul was ranked #79 and Simon #73 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Paul was ranked #86 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #370 and Simon #125 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Paul was ranked #286 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #290 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Paul was ranked #352 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #586 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Paul and Simon over time
Paul and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 276 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Simon in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Simon 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 1986, Simon moved ahead of Paul in New Zealand · Boys — #23 and #27 the year before became #27 and #21.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paul and Simon changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1955 and 1997, ending at #86 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Paul and Simon averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #586 and #524.
- Longest-running competitions
Paul and Simon were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 42 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #86 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Paul #72 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys77 shared years, 1945–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Simon in 41.
Highest recorded here: Paul #69 in 1951, Simon #35 in 1992.
The order changed in 1984: Simon moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #119 and #121; by 1984 that had become #142 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #370, Simon #125.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Paul held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Simon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1978, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 2025: Simon moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #222 and #275; by 2025 that had become #286 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paul #286, Simon #244.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1996
Paul held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Simon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1965, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1986: Simon moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #23 and #27; by 1986 that had become #27 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Paul #79, Simon #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys42 shared years, 1955–1997
Paul held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Simon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Paul #4 in 1966, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Paul #86, Simon #94.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Simon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Paul #72 in 1996, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Simon moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #384 and #418; by 2021 that had become #489 and #401.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #586, Simon #524.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Paul held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Simon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Paul #27 in 1997, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order changed in 2022: Simon moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #209 and #418; by 2022 that had become #352 and #311.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Paul #352, Simon #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 | Paul | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpɔːl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 #286 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Paul has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Simon.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys