Abigail vs Julia
Abigail and Juliacompared 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 · Girls
In 2001, Abigail was ranked #62 and Julia #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Julia #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Abigail was ranked #90 and Julia #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #273 and Julia #85 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Julia #188 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Julia over time
Abigail and Julia appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Julia in 2.
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.
Abigail reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Julia 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Julia changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #115 and #118.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Julia fell — from #303 and #68 in 1969 to #115 and #118 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Julia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 30 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #273 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #36 in 2008, Julia #31 in 2009.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Julia in 37.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Julia #118.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1983–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Julia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Julia #32 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Julia #85.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Julia #223.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Julia #212.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1991–2001
Abigail held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Julia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #53 in 1998, Julia #71 in 1998.
The order changed in 1994: Abigail moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #99 and #84; by 1994 that had become #92 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Abigail #62, Julia #81.
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 | Abigail | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Julia.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Abigail 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
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls