Ellen vs Josephine
Ellen and Josephinecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ellen was ranked #103 and Josephine #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Josephine #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Josephine #241 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Josephine #267 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Josephine #295 among girls in Scotland.
Ellen and Josephine over time
Ellen and Josephine appear together in 4 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josephine in 0.
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 2 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 1980, Ellen moved ahead of Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #108 and #102 the year before became #84 and #114.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ellen and Josephine changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #166 and #483.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Josephine were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 63 years, from 1951 to 2025, ending at #208 and #241.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #166 and #483.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1951–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 63 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #22 in 1951, Josephine #238 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Josephine #241.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Josephine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Josephine #25 in 1964.
The order changed in 1980: Ellen moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #108 and #102; by 1980 that had become #84 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Josephine #483.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Josephine in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.
The order changed in 2012: Josephine moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #258 and #261; by 2012 that had become #274 and #235.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Josephine #267.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Ellen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Josephine #229 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ellen #103, Josephine #355.
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 | Ellen | Josephine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ellen has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Josephine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 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: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #241 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls