Joel vs Paul
Joel and Paulcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Joel was ranked #47 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Joel was ranked #72 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #154 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #176 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #209 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #278 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joel was ranked #509 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Joel and Paul over time
Joel and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Joel in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Joel 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Joel moved into the top 50 at #38 in 2003 as Paul fell out of it to #60, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Joel moved ahead of Paul in England and Wales · Boys — #75 and #72 the year before became #75 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joel and Paul changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2024, ending at #176 and #370.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Joel and Paul averaged 26.0 places apart, ending at #47 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Joel and Paul were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 50 years, from 1969 to 2024, ending at #176 and #370.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #75 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #209 and #586.
List by list
Norway · Boys50 shared years, 1969–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paul in 32.
Highest recorded here: Joel #148 in 2021, Paul #96 in 1970.
The order changed in 2010: Joel moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #258 and #224; by 2010 that had become #211 and #277.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #176, Paul #370.
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1973–2025
Joel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 35.
Highest recorded here: Joel #185 in 2005, Paul #5 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joel #509, Paul #286.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 1.
Highest recorded here: Joel #62 in 2001, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Joel moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #75 and #72; by 1997 that had become #75 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #209, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paul in 6.
Highest recorded here: Joel #38 in 2003, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Joel moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #61 and #49; by 2003 that had become #38 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #154, Paul #278.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1976–1998
Joel held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paul in 11.
Highest recorded here: Joel #27 in 1987, Paul #10 in 1976.
The order changed in 1987: Joel moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #36 and #25; by 1987 that had become #27 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Joel #47, Paul #86.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1980–1998
Joel held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paul in 13.
Highest recorded here: Joel #48 in 1985, Paul #9 in 1980.
The order changed in 1993: Joel moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #57 and #53; by 1993 that had become #63 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Joel #72, Paul #86.
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 | Joel | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpɔːl/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| 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 | Norway · Boys #178 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Joel does not have one recorded yet.
- Joel and Paul both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Joel 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
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys