Janet vs Julia
Janet and Juliacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Julia #46 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Julia #127 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Julia #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Janet and Julia over time
Janet and Julia appear together in 3 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Julia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Janet 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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Julia in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Julia changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 1991, ending at #652 and #127.
- Mirrored each other
Over 31 shared years in Norway · Girls, Julia rose about as far as Janet fell — from #348 and #401 in 1953 to #652 and #127 in 1991.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Julia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 31 years, from 1953 to 1991, ending at #652 and #127.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Julia in 32.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Julia #34 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Julia #46.
Norway · Girls31 shared years, 1953–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Julia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Janet #243 in 1955, Julia #108 in 1982.
The order changed in 1972: Julia moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #289 and #321; by 1972 that had become #393 and #288.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Julia #127.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Julia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Julia #223.
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 | Janet | Julia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Janet does not have one recorded yet.
- Janet and Julia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Janet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls