George vs Joseph
George and Joseph compared 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, George was ranked #7 and Joseph #59 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, George was ranked #7 and Joseph #69 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, George was ranked #24 and Joseph #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, George was ranked #40 and Joseph #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, George was ranked #48 and Joseph #82 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, George was ranked #112 and Joseph #64 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, George was ranked #364 and Joseph #430 among boys in Norway.
George and Joseph over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
George and Joseph over time
George and Joseph appear together in 6 published lists, across 315 years of shared records. Joseph held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, George 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.
Joseph reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, George 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 2007, George moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #14 and #11 the year before became #12 and #13.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
George and Joseph changed places 12 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #7 and #69.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, George and Joseph averaged 17.7 places apart, ending at #7 and #59.
- Longest-running competitions
George and Joseph were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #7 and #59.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — George #52 in 1964, Joseph #11 in 1964.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys74 shared years, 1952–2025
George held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Joseph in 36.
Highest recorded here: George #24 in 2023, Joseph #32 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: George #24, Joseph #33.
New Zealand · Boys70 shared years, 1954–2023
George held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Joseph in 47.
Highest recorded here: George #5 in 2021, Joseph #18 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: George #7, Joseph #69.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
George held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joseph in 62.
Highest recorded here: George #52 in 1964, Joseph #11 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: George #112, Joseph #64.
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1954–2023
George held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Joseph in 28.
Highest recorded here: George #253 in 1968, Joseph #272 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: George #364, Joseph #430.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
George held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Joseph in 11.
Highest recorded here: George #2 in 2018, Joseph #7 in 2000.
The order changed in 2007: George moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #14 and #11; by 2007 that had become #12 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: George #7, Joseph #59.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
George held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Joseph in 23.
Highest recorded here: George #25 in 2023, Joseph #22 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: George #40, 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.
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 George
Pairs where George shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- George vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #334.
George · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Conor vs George
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Conor rose about as far as George fell — from #56 and #52 in 1964 to #16 and #112 in 2025.
Conor · George · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- George vs Luke
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke rose about as far as George fell — from #52 and #105 in 1964 to #112 and #23 in 2025.
George · Luke · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Joseph
Pairs where Joseph shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joseph vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #36 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #76 and #395.
Joseph · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #45 and #61 in 1954 to #12 and #100 in 2005.
Thomas · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Aaron vs Jonathan
Aaron and Jonathan changed places 18 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 2013, ending at #89 and #88.
Aaron · Jonathan · 43 shared years, 1966–2013 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
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 | George | Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Farmer, earth-worker. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒɔːdʒ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #7 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- George has a recorded origin (Greek); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- George and Joseph both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for George; Joseph doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
George
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #7 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