Philip vs Phillip
Philip and Phillipcompared 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, Philip was ranked #98 and Phillip #63 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Philip was ranked #95 and Phillip #79 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Philip was ranked #91 and Phillip #268 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Philip was ranked #217 and Phillip #403 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Philip was ranked #327 and Phillip #785 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Philip was ranked #461 and Phillip #1460 among boys in England and Wales.
Philip and Phillip over time
Philip and Phillip appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Philip held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Phillip in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1973, Phillip moved ahead of Philip in New Zealand · Boys — #36 and #46 the year before became #46 and #44.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Philip and Phillip averaged 22.9 places apart, ending at #98 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Philip and Phillip were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 36 years, from 1952 to 1988, ending at #98 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Philip #103 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1972–2025
Philip held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Philip #68 in 2013, Phillip #116 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #91, Phillip #268.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Philip held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Philip #30 in 1978, Phillip #122 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Philip #327, Phillip #785.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1992
Philip held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Phillip in 19.
Highest recorded here: Philip #20 in 1963, Phillip #35 in 1966.
The order changed in 1973: Phillip moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #36 and #46; by 1973 that had become #46 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Philip #95, Phillip #79.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1952–1988
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phillip in 36.
Highest recorded here: Philip #29 in 1958, Phillip #14 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Philip #98, Phillip #63.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Philip held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Philip #103 in 1996, Phillip #180 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Philip #461, Phillip #1460.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Philip held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phillip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Philip #51 in 1997, Phillip #189 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Philip #217, Phillip #403.
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 | Philip | Phillip |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #91 (2025) | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Philip and Phillip both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Philip
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Phillip
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #14 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 recorded1952–1994
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys