Bradley vs Joel
Bradley 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Bradley was ranked #98 and Joel #40 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Bradley was ranked #76 and Joel #47 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Joel #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #352 and Joel #223 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Joel #278 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Joel #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Bradley and Joel over time
Bradley and Joel appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Bradley held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Joel in 2.
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.
Bradley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Joel 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Joel moved ahead of Bradley in England and Wales · Boys — #81 and #88 the year before became #90 and #80.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Bradley and Joel averaged 50.7 places apart, ending at #352 and #223.
- Longest-running competitions
Bradley and Joel were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #352 and #223.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1993–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joel in 2.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order changed in 2025: Bradley moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #520 and #430; by 2025 that had become #372 and #509.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Joel #509.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Joel in 17.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order changed in 2009: Joel moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #81 and #88; by 2009 that had become #90 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #352, Joel #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1976–2003
Bradley held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Joel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Joel #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1999: Joel moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #40 and #47; by 1999 that had become #48 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Bradley #76, Joel #47.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Joel in 26.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Joel #38 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Joel #154.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1980–2005
Bradley held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Joel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Joel #40 in 2005.
The order changed in 2002: Joel moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #69 and #73; by 2002 that had become #64 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Bradley #98, Joel #40.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Bradley
Pairs where Bradley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #404.
Oliver · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #13 and #404.
Jacob · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ashley vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #40 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #352.
Ashley · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mohammed vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #20 and #352.
Mohammed · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bradley | 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #352 (2025) | Norway · Boys #178 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bradley has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Joel.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #223 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys