Edward vs Joseph
Edward and Josephcompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #31 and Joseph #59 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #75 and Joseph #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Joseph #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Joseph #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Edward was ranked #73 and Joseph #69 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Joseph #82 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #189 and Joseph #465 among boys in Norway.
Edward and Joseph over time
Edward and Joseph appear together in 6 published lists, across 317 years of shared records. Joseph held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Edward 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 2017, Edward moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #23 and #22 the year before became #23 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Joseph changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #73 and #69.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Edward and Joseph averaged 23.7 places apart, ending at #31 and #59.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Joseph were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #31 and #59.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Edward #17 in 1965, Joseph #11 in 1964.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys70 shared years, 1952–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Joseph in 64.
Highest recorded here: Edward #42 in 2015, Joseph #33 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Joseph moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #42 and #49; by 2021 that had become #46 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #75, Joseph #33.
Norway · Boys65 shared years, 1955–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Joseph in 18.
Highest recorded here: Edward #168 in 2012, Joseph #272 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #189, Joseph #465.
New Zealand · Boys62 shared years, 1954–2023
Edward held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Joseph in 50.
Highest recorded here: Edward #51 in 1955, Joseph #18 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Edward #73, Joseph #69.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joseph in 62.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Joseph #11 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Joseph #64.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Joseph in 21.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Joseph #7 in 2000.
The order changed in 2017: Edward moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #23 and #22; by 2017 that had become #23 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #31, Joseph #59.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joseph in 28.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Joseph #22 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, Joseph #34.
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 | Edward | Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #31 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Edward and Joseph both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #31 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys