Daniel vs Joshua
Daniel and Joshua compared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Joshua #81 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Joshua #63 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Joshua #60 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #62 and Joshua #53 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Daniel was ranked #53 and Joshua #67 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Joshua #405 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #68 and Joshua #76 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Daniel and Joshua over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Daniel and Joshua over time
Daniel and Joshua appear together in 6 published lists, across 254 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joshua in 2.
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.
Daniel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Joshua in 2. 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 1999, Joshua moved ahead of Daniel in England and Wales · Boys — #4 and #5 the year before became #5 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Daniel and Joshua changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1974 and 2023, ending at #53 and #67.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Joshua averaged 8.5 places apart, ending at #62 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Joshua were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #62 and #53.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys54 shared years, 1971–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Joshua in 29.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1979, Joshua #1 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #68, Joshua #76.
New Zealand · Boys50 shared years, 1974–2023
Daniel held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Joshua in 24.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Joshua #1 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Daniel #53, Joshua #67.
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1974–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Joshua in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Joshua #17 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Joshua #81.
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1973–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Joshua in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Joshua #255 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Joshua #405.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Joshua in 27.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Joshua #2 in 2002.
The order changed in 1999: Joshua moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #4 and #5; by 1999 that had become #5 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #62, Joshua #53.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Joshua in 3.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Joshua #6 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, Joshua #63.
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 Daniel
Pairs where Daniel shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Daniel vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #402.
Daniel · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #12 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #37 and #404.
Daniel · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Declan
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #23 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Declan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daniel vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #19 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #348.
Daniel · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Joshua
Pairs where Joshua shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joshua vs Samuel
Joshua and Samuel changed places 16 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1974 and 2023, ending at #67 and #50.
Joshua · Samuel · 50 shared years, 1974–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Jake
Joshua and Jake changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1983 and 2025, ending at #81 and #95.
Joshua · Jake · 41 shared years, 1983–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Conor
Joshua and Conor changed places 12 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #63 and #51.
Joshua · Conor · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Blake
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Joshua #1 in 1993, Blake #21 in 1995.
Joshua · Blake · 35 shared years, 1982–2016 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Daniel | Joshua |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | From Hebrew Yehoshua, combining 'yeho' (referring to God) with 'yasha' ('to save') — 'Yahweh is salvation'. Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites in the Old Testament. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | /ˈd͡ʒɑʃ.u.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #53 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Both Daniel and Joshua share a recorded Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Daniel and Joshua both have 2 syllables.
- Daniel's recorded meaning differs from Joshua's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Daniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #280 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1954–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Joshua
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1971–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys