Barbara vs Julia
Barbara 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Julia #41 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Julia #87 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Julia #94 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Julia over time
Barbara and Julia appear together in 3 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. Julia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barbara 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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Julia 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Julia changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2015, ending at #543 and #41.
- Mirrored each other
Over 44 shared years in Norway · Girls, Julia rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #231 and #401 in 1953 to #543 and #41 in 2015.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Julia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 44 years, from 1953 to 2015, ending at #543 and #41.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #94.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Julia in 32.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Julia #94.
Norway · Girls44 shared years, 1953–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Julia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Julia #37 in 2012.
The order changed in 1976: Julia moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #208 and #228; by 1976 that had become #249 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Julia #41.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Julia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Julia #223.
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 | Barbara | 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 | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | 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); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Julia.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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