Brendan vs Joel
Brendan 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 2004, Brendan was ranked #92 and Joel #43 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Brendan was ranked #94 and Joel #60 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Joel #154 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Joel #209 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Joel #278 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Joel #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Brendan and Joel over time
Brendan and Joel appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Joel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Brendan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Brendan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1993, Joel moved ahead of Brendan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #41 and #42 the year before became #44 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Joel changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1976 and 2004, ending at #92 and #43.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Joel averaged 15.4 places apart, ending at #92 and #43.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Joel were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 35 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #402 and #509.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #25 in 1985, Joel #27 in 1987.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1973–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Joel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #22 in 1973, Joel #185 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Joel #509.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Joel #62 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Joel #209.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1976–2004
Brendan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Joel in 20.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Joel #27 in 1987.
The order changed in 1993: Joel moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #41 and #42; by 1993 that had become #44 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Brendan #92, Joel #43.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Joel in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Joel #38 in 2003.
The order changed in 1999: Joel moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #86 and #87; by 1999 that had become #87 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Joel #154.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1980–1991
Brendan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Joel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #53 in 1982, Joel #48 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Brendan #94, Joel #60.
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 | Brendan | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (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
- Brendan 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
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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