Peter vs Robert
Peter and Robertcompared 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 2003, Peter was ranked #60 and Robert #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #181 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Peter was ranked #94 and Robert #82 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #164 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Peter was ranked #152 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #286 and Robert #151 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Peter was ranked #174 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Peter and Robert over time
Peter and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 303 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Peter in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Peter 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Robert moved into the top 50 at #42 in 1995 as Peter fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1995, Robert moved ahead of Peter in New Zealand · Boys — #39 and #47 the year before became #53 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Peter and Robert changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 2003, ending at #60 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 52 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Peter and Robert averaged 5.4 places apart, ending at #60 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Peter and Robert were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 52 years, from 1952 to 2003, ending at #60 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Peter #59 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Peter held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Robert in 50.
Highest recorded here: Peter #72 in 1987, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #174, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Peter held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Robert in 54.
Highest recorded here: Peter #13 in 1964, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order changed in 1974: Robert moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #18 and #19; by 1974 that had become #20 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #152, Robert #104.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1952–2003
Peter held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Robert in 6.
Highest recorded here: Peter #1 in 1954, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Peter #60, Robert #95.
New Zealand · Boys51 shared years, 1954–2007
Peter held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Robert in 33.
Highest recorded here: Peter #1 in 1956, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order changed in 1995: Robert moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #39 and #47; by 1995 that had become #53 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Peter #94, Robert #82.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Peter held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 29.
Highest recorded here: Peter #59 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Peter #286, Robert #151.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Peter held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Robert in 10.
Highest recorded here: Peter #22 in 1998, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Robert moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #140 and #165; by 2018 that had become #114 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Peter #164, Robert #93.
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 | Peter | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Greek/Aramaic, biblical | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpit.əɹ/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #152 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Peter and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Peter's recorded meaning differs from Robert's — see the table above for each.
- 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
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
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #363 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys