Deborah vs Julie
Deborah and Juliecompared 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 · Girls
In 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Julie #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #429 and Julie #60 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Deborah was ranked #94 and Julie #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Deborah was ranked #351 and Julie #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Julie #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #580 and Julie #1639 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Julie over time
Deborah and Julie appear together in 6 published lists, across 185 years of shared records. Julie held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Deborah 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.
Julie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Deborah 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 1992, Julie moved ahead of Deborah in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #91 and #96 the year before became #111 and #94.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Julie changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1985, ending at #94 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Julie averaged 17.3 places apart, ending at #86 and #49.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Julie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #580 and #1639.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Julie #436 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Julie in 32.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Julie #51 in 1977.
The order changed in 1992: Julie moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #91 and #96; by 1992 that had become #111 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Julie #483.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1954–1985
Deborah held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Julie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Julie #4 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Deborah #94, Julie #97.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Julie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Julie #436 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #580, Julie #1639.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1952–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Julie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Julie #3 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Julie #49.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1957–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Julie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Julie #2 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #429, Julie #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2007
Deborah held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Julie in 5.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Julie #112 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Deborah #351, Julie #351.
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 | Julie |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Norway · Girls #60 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Julie does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Julie.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Julie 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 #580 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1639 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls