Peter vs Sebastian
Peter and Sebastiancompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #286 and Sebastian #45 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Peter was ranked #174 and Sebastian #53 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2006, Peter was ranked #83 and Sebastian #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Peter was ranked #94 and Sebastian #66 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #181 and Sebastian #116 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Peter was ranked #152 and Sebastian #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Peter was ranked #164 and Sebastian #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Peter and Sebastian over time
Peter and Sebastian appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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, and Sebastian 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 2002, Sebastian moved ahead of Peter in England and Wales · Boys — #86 and #106 the year before became #97 and #96.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Peter and Sebastian changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 2025, ending at #152 and #125.
- Mirrored each other
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Peter fell — from #113 and #415 in 1968 to #174 and #53 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Peter and Sebastian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #174 and #53.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1968–2025
Peter held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sebastian in 39.
Highest recorded here: Peter #72 in 1987, Sebastian #6 in 2006.
The order changed in 1988: Sebastian moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #72 and #106; by 1988 that had become #97 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #174, Sebastian #53.
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1970–2025
Peter held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Sebastian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Peter #17 in 1971, Sebastian #80 in 2017.
The order changed in 2024: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #130 and #131; by 2024 that had become #132 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Peter #152, Sebastian #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Peter held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sebastian in 23.
Highest recorded here: Peter #59 in 1996, Sebastian #28 in 2018.
The order changed in 2002: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #86 and #106; by 2002 that had become #97 and #96.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Peter #286, Sebastian #45.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1999–2024
Peter held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sebastian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Peter #25 in 1999, Sebastian #102 in 2015.
The order changed in 2022: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #134 and #192; by 2022 that had become #177 and #125.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Peter #164, Sebastian #154.
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 | Sebastian |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Traditionally interpreted as 'venerable' or 'revered' — from Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste' (a city in Asia Minor), whose own name derives from a Greek word used to translate the Roman imperial title Augustus. |
| Origin | Greek/Aramaic, biblical | Latin, from Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpit.əɹ/ | /səˈbæstʃən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| 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 Sebastian is recorded with a Latin, from Greek origin.
- Peter has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sebastian.
- Peter's recorded meaning differs from Sebastian'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
Sebastian
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #415 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #31 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys