Brad vs Joel
Brad and Joelcompared 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 1981, Brad was ranked #100 and Joel #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Brad was ranked #307 and Joel #53 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1986, Brad was ranked #100 and Joel #54 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brad was ranked #3688 and Joel #209 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2007, Brad was ranked #629 and Joel #226 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Brad and Joel over time
Brad and Joel appear together in 2 published lists, across 39 years of shared records. Joel held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Brad 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.
Brad reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Joel 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 2001, Joel moved ahead of Brad in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #274 and #312 the year before became #273 and #191.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Brad held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joel in 27.
Highest recorded here: Brad #164 in 1997, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brad #3688, Joel #209.
Republic of Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1995–2007
Brad held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Joel in 8.
Highest recorded here: Brad #203 in 1997, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order changed in 2001: Joel moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #274 and #312; by 2001 that had become #273 and #191.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Brad #629, Joel #226.
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 | Brad | Joel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3688 (2024) | Norway · Boys #178 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brad and Joel both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brad
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1976–1986
Highest recorded position: #77 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1976–1986).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3688 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys