Philip vs Robert
Philip and Robert compared 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 Robert #23 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Philip was ranked #95 and Robert #28 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Philip was ranked #619 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Philip was ranked #91 and Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Philip was ranked #309 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Philip was ranked #311 and Robert #115 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Philip was ranked #549 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.
Philip and Robert over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Philip and Robert over time
Philip and Robert appear together in 6 published lists, across 262 years of shared records. Robert 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.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Philip 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 1999, Philip moved ahead of Robert in Norway · Boys — #110 and #99 the year before became #101 and #150.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Philip and Robert averaged 46.0 places apart, ending at #98 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Philip and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #549 and #164.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Philip #103 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys70 shared years, 1948–2025
Philip held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Robert in 43.
Highest recorded here: Philip #68 in 2013, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order changed in 1999: Philip moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #110 and #99; by 1999 that had become #101 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #91, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 62.
Highest recorded here: Philip #30 in 1978, Robert #12 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #309, Robert #104.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1992
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 38.
Highest recorded here: Philip #20 in 1963, Robert #5 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Philip #95, Robert #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1952–1988
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 36.
Highest recorded here: Philip #29 in 1958, Robert #3 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Philip #98, Robert #23.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 30.
Highest recorded here: Philip #103 in 1996, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #549, Robert #164.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 26.
Highest recorded here: Philip #51 in 1997, Robert #35 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Philip #311, Robert #115.
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 Philip
Pairs where Philip shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kenneth vs Philip
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #785 and #327.
Kenneth · Philip · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Tommy vs Philip
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Tommy fell — from #268 and #341 in 1948 to #503 and #103 in 2024.
Tommy · Philip · 69 shared years, 1948–2024 · Mirrored each other
- Kjetil vs Philip
Over 64 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Kjetil fell — from #216 and #341 in 1948 to #420 and #89 in 2022.
Kjetil · Philip · 64 shared years, 1948–2022 · Mirrored each other
- Ronny vs Philip
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Ronny fell — from #283 and #341 in 1948 to #515 and #84 in 2011.
Ronny · Philip · 51 shared years, 1948–2011 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Robert
Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Robert vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #164 and #716.
Robert · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #509.
Robert · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Philip | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #91 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robert has a recorded origin (Germanic); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
- Philip and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robert; 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
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 #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys