Namewise

Peter vs Philip

Peter and Philipcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1988, Peter was ranked #21 and Philip #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1992, Peter was ranked #50 and Philip #95 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Peter was ranked #174 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Peter was ranked #152 and Philip #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Peter was ranked #177 and Philip #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Peter was ranked #181 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Peter was ranked #287 and Philip #549 among boys in England and Wales.

Peter and Philip over time

Peter and Philip appear together in 6 published lists, across 262 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Philip in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Peter reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Philip 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 1999, Philip moved ahead of Peter in Norway · Boys — #80 and #110 the year before became #126 and #101.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Peter and Philip averaged 49.9 places apart, ending at #21 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Peter and Philip were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #287 and #549.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Peter #59 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys70 shared years, 1948–2025

    Peter held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Philip in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #72 in 1987, Philip #68 in 2013.

    The order changed in 1999: Philip moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #80 and #110; by 1999 that had become #126 and #101.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #174, Philip #91.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Peter held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Philip in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #13 in 1964, Philip #30 in 1978.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #152, Philip #309.

  • New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1992

    Peter held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Philip in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #1 in 1956, Philip #20 in 1963.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1992: Peter #50, Philip #95.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1952–1988

    Peter held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Philip in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #1 in 1954, Philip #29 in 1958.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1988: Peter #21, Philip #98.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Peter held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Philip in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #59 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #287, Philip #549.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022

    Peter held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Philip in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Peter #22 in 1998, Philip #51 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Peter #177, Philip #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.

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 Peter

Pairs where Peter shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Philip

Pairs where Philip shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Peter, Philip
FieldPeterPhilip
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek/Aramaic, biblicalNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈpit.əɹ/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025)Norway · Boys #91 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Peter has a recorded origin (Greek/Aramaic, biblical); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
  • Peter and Philip both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Peter; Philip 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

Peter

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2006

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #287 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Philip

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1948

    First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1992

    Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys