Caoimhe vs Julia
Caoimhe 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #70 and Julia #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Julia #188 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Julia #244 among girls in England and Wales.
Caoimhe and Julia over time
Caoimhe and Julia appear together in 3 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Julia in 1.
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.
Caoimhe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Julia 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 1982, Caoimhe moved ahead of Julia in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #188 and #144 the year before became #169 and #173.
- Mirrored each other
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Julia fell — from #380 and #59 in 1966 to #31 and #118 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Caoimhe and Julia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #244.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Julia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order changed in 1982: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #188 and #144; by 1982 that had become #169 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Julia #118.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Julia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Julia #244.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Julia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #25 in 2003, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #70, Julia #212.
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 | Caoimhe | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. | 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 | Irish | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːvʲə/ | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Caoimhe is recorded with a Irish origin, while Julia is recorded with a The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to origin.
- Caoimhe and Julia both have 2 syllables.
- Caoimhe's recorded meaning differs from Julia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Caoimhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #244 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls