Elijah vs Noah
Elijah and Noahcompared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Elijah was ranked #7 and Noah #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Elijah was ranked #13 and Noah #1 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Elijah was ranked #76 and Noah #1 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Elijah was ranked #23 and Noah #2 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Elijah was ranked #57 and Noah #3 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Elijah was ranked #97 and Noah #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2019, Elijah was ranked #5591 and Noah #2869 among girls in England and Wales.
Elijah and Noah over time
Elijah and Noah appear together in 5 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Noah held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Elijah in 0.
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.
Noah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Elijah 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 2003, Noah moved ahead of Elijah in New Zealand · Boys — #58 and #71 the year before became #46 and #39.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Elijah and Noah averaged 34.0 places apart, ending at #7 and #1.
- Longest-running competitions
Elijah and Noah were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #23 and #2.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Noah in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #23 in 2024, Noah #1 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #23, Noah #2.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 2000–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Noah in 25.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #97 in 2025, Noah #2 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #97, Noah #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 2003–2025
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Noah in 23.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #7 in 2025, Noah #1 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elijah #7, Noah #1.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2023
Elijah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Noah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #11 in 2020, Noah #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2003: Noah moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #58 and #71; by 2003 that had become #46 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elijah #13, Noah #1.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1999–2024
Elijah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Noah in 20.
Highest recorded here: Elijah #52 in 2023, Noah #1 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elijah #57, Noah #3.
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 Elijah
Pairs where Elijah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elijah vs Archie
Elijah and Archie both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Elijah vs Hugo
Elijah and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elijah · Hugo · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Elijah
Oliver and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Theodore vs Elijah
Theodore and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Noah
Pairs where Noah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Noah vs Theo
Noah and Theo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Noah · Theo · 33 shared years, 1990–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Noah vs Max
Noah and Max both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Noah · Max · 33 shared years, 1990–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Noah vs Alfie
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Noah #1 in 2018, Alfie #10 in 2016.
Noah · Alfie · 23 shared years, 2000–2024 · Peaked in the same years
- Noah vs Alfred
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Noah #1 in 2021, Alfred #76 in 2023.
Noah · Alfred · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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
Side by side
| Field | Elijah | Noah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally rendered as 'my God is Yahweh', reflecting a common theophoric naming pattern in Hebrew. | Commonly interpreted as 'rest' or 'comfort'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ɪˈlaɪdʒə/ | /ˈnoʊə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Noa, Noé |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #7 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Elijah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Noah is recorded with a Hebrew origin.
- Elijah has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Noah.
- Elijah's recorded meaning differs from Noah's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Elijah a "medium" Data Confidence level and Noah a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Elijah
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #312 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2003–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2003–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Noah
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #640 among boys in Norway in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls