Joanna vs Julia
Joanna 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Joanna was ranked #98 and Julia #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Joanna was ranked #508 and Julia #85 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Joanna was ranked #98 and Julia #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Joanna was ranked #352 and Julia #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Joanna was ranked #384 and Julia #188 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Joanna was ranked #407 and Julia #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Joanna was ranked #488 and Julia #223 among girls in England and Wales.
Joanna and Julia over time
Joanna and Julia appear together in 5 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Julia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joanna in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joanna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Julia moved ahead of Joanna in New Zealand · Girls — #61 and #79 the year before became #93 and #69.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joanna and Julia changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #407 and #212.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Joanna and Julia averaged 31.7 places apart, ending at #98 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Joanna and Julia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 57 years, from 1955 to 2025, ending at #508 and #85.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Joanna held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Julia in 50.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #104 in 1982, Julia #31 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #352, Julia #118.
Norway · Girls57 shared years, 1955–2025
Joanna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Julia in 35.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #93 in 1983, Julia #32 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joanna #508, Julia #85.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joanna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Julia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #125 in 1996, Julia #77 in 2010.
The order changed in 2003: Julia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #271 and #333; by 2003 that had become #287 and #281.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joanna #488, Julia #223.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Joanna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Julia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #111 in 2000, Julia #68 in 2011.
The order changed in 2005: Julia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #169 and #316; by 2005 that had become #318 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joanna #407, Julia #212.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1970–1992
Joanna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Julia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Joanna #29 in 1970, Julia #26 in 1983.
The order changed in 1989: Julia moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #61 and #79; by 1989 that had become #93 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Joanna #98, Julia #84.
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 | Joanna | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Joanna does not have one recorded yet.
- Joanna and Julia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Joanna 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
Joanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #432 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–1992
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1968–1992).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #508 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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