Phillip vs Richard
Phillip and Richardcompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1995, Phillip was ranked #100 and Richard #60 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1994, Phillip was ranked #90 and Richard #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Phillip was ranked #178 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2012, Phillip was ranked #403 and Richard #204 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Phillip was ranked #785 and Richard #231 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Phillip was ranked #1226 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Phillip and Richard over time
Phillip and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 208 years of shared records. Richard held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Phillip in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Phillip in 2. 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 1992, Richard moved ahead of Phillip in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #64 and #68 the year before became #73 and #67.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Phillip and Richard changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1952 and 1994, ending at #90 and #81.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Phillip and Richard averaged 8.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Phillip and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1226 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Phillip #180 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1952–1994
Phillip held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Richard in 33.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #14 in 1952, Richard #16 in 1960.
The order changed in 1992: Richard moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #64 and #68; by 1992 that had become #73 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Phillip #90, Richard #81.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1964–2024
Phillip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 43.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #122 in 1966, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Phillip #785, Richard #231.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1954–1995
Phillip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 42.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #35 in 1966, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Phillip #100, Richard #60.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1972–2023
Phillip held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Richard in 21.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #116 in 2013, Richard #97 in 1972.
The order changed in 2004: Phillip moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #209 and #200; by 2004 that had become #205 and #224.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Phillip #178, Richard #481.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Phillip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 30.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #180 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Phillip #1226, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2012
Phillip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Richard in 9.
Highest recorded here: Phillip #189 in 2000, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Phillip #403, Richard #204.
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 | Phillip | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #268 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Phillip does not have one recorded yet.
- Phillip and Richard both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; Phillip doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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 #1226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys