Hannah vs Josephine
Hannah 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Hannah was ranked #3 and Josephine #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Hannah was ranked #19 and Josephine #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Josephine #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2016, Hannah was ranked #28 and Josephine #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Josephine #295 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #105 and Josephine #256 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #116 and Josephine #241 among girls in Norway.
Hannah and Josephine over time
Hannah and Josephine appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josephine 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.
Hannah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Josephine 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 1987, Hannah moved ahead of Josephine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #155 and #153 the year before became #119 and #147.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Josephine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #105 and #256.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hannah #6 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Josephine in 23.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Josephine #25 in 1964.
The order changed in 1987: Hannah moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #155 and #153; by 1987 that had become #119 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Josephine #483.
Norway · Girls47 shared years, 1978–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #25 in 2005, Josephine #238 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #116, Josephine #241.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Josephine #168 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #105, Josephine #256.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2017
Hannah held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Josephine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Josephine #229 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Hannah #19, 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 | Hannah | Josephine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | |
| 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 #21 (2025) | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Hannah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Hannah has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Josephine.
- A meaning is recorded for Hannah; Josephine 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
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #105 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #256 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls