Amelia vs Julia
Amelia 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #2 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Julia #188 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #14 and Julia #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Amelia was ranked #33 and Julia #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Julia #85 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Amelia was ranked #42 and Julia #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Amelia and Julia over time
Amelia and Julia appear together in 7 published lists, across 205 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Julia in 3.
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.
Julia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Amelia 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 took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Girls, Amelia moved into the top 50 at #45 in 2017 as Julia fell out of it to #59, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Amelia moved ahead of Julia in New Zealand · Girls — #72 and #71 the year before became #61 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Julia changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #12 and #118.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Julia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 42 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #2 and #223.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #1 in 2011, Julia #77 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Julia in 37.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order changed in 2010: Amelia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #39 and #31; by 2010 that had become #34 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Julia #118.
England and Wales · Girls42 shared years, 1996–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #2, Julia #223.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1967–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Julia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Julia #32 in 2013.
The order changed in 2017: Amelia moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #53 and #45; by 2017 that had become #45 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Julia #85.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Julia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order changed in 2003: Amelia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #286 and #188; by 2003 that had become #156 and #202.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #14, Julia #212.
Scotland · Girls19 shared years, 2024–2024
Amelia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #7 in 2024, Julia #188 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amelia #7, Julia #188.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1986–2001
Amelia held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Julia in 8.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #42 in 2000, Julia #54 in 1986.
The order changed in 1999: Amelia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #72 and #71; by 1999 that had become #61 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Amelia #42, Julia #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1985–2002
Amelia held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #33 in 2002, Julia #70 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Amelia #33, Julia #83.
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 | Amelia | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | 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 | Latin (influence) | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | 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 | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Julia is recorded with a The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Julia.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Julia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Julia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — 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: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 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