Jacob vs Julian
Jacob and Juliancompared 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 · Boys
In 2023, Jacob was ranked #23 and Julian #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #27 and Julian #234 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Jacob was ranked #34 and Julian #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #41 and Julian #314 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #59 and Julian #54 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jacob was ranked #62 and Julian #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jacob and Julian over time
Jacob and Julian appear together in 3 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Jacob held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Julian 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.
Jacob reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Julian 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 2025, Julian moved ahead of Jacob in Norway · Boys — #56 and #57 the year before became #59 and #54.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacob and Julian changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1967 and 2025, ending at #59 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 55 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jacob and Julian averaged 59.9 places apart, ending at #59 and #54.
- Mirrored each other
Over 38 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jacob rose about as far as Julian fell — from #321 and #191 in 1980 to #62 and #348 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacob and Julian were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #41 and #314.
List by list
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1967–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Julian in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #34 in 2017, Julian #26 in 2011.
The order changed in 2025: Julian moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #56 and #57; by 2025 that had become #59 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #59, Julian #54.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1980–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Julian in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #37 in 2016, Julian #183 in 2020.
The order changed in 1993: Jacob moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #251 and #202; by 1993 that had become #190 and #339.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #62, Julian #348.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jacob held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Julian in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jacob #4 in 2013, Julian #267 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacob #41, Julian #314.
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 Jacob
Pairs where Jacob shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jacob vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #716.
Jacob · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #487.
Jacob · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2021 they were #16 and #433.
Jacob · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2022 they were #19 and #414.
Jacob · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jacob | Julian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'holder of the heel' or 'supplanter', referencing the biblical account of Jacob being born grasping his twin brother Esau's heel. A less common alternate theory holds it may derive from a longer form meaning roughly 'may God protect'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪkəb/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 #41 (2025) | Norway · Boys #54 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jacob has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek and Latin); Julian does not have one recorded yet.
- Jacob and Julian both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jacob; Julian 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
Jacob
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #273 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in England and Wales, in 2013 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #41 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Julian
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #191 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1967–2025
Highest recorded position: #26 among boys in Norway, in 2011 (recorded 1967–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #314 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys