Deborah vs Judith
Deborah and Judithcompared 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 · Girls
In 1970, Deborah was ranked #10 and Judith #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Deborah was ranked #25 and Judith #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Deborah was ranked #372 and Judith #316 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Deborah was ranked #536 and Judith #542 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Judith #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Deborah was ranked #905 and Judith #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Deborah and Judith over time
Deborah and Judith appear together in 5 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Judith in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Judith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Deborah 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 1956, Deborah moved ahead of Judith in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #9 the year before became #7 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Judith were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #905 and #905.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Judith #717 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2022
Deborah held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Judith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Judith #127 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Deborah #905, Judith #905.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Judith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Judith #717 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Judith #2115.
Norway · Girls21 shared years, 1953–2011
Deborah held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Judith in 16.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Judith #127 in 1953.
The order changed in 2006: Deborah moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #548 and #414; by 2006 that had become #551 and #564.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Deborah #536, Judith #542.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1969
Deborah held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Judith in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Judith #4 in 1952.
The order changed in 1956: Deborah moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #12 and #9; by 1956 that had become #7 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Deborah #25, Judith #82.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1970
Deborah held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Judith in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Judith #4 in 1954.
The order changed in 1958: Deborah moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #15 and #6; by 1958 that had become #6 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Deborah #10, Judith #86.
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 | Deborah | Judith |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Judith does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Judith.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Judith doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Judith
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #113 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls