Joel vs Peter
Joel and Petercompared 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 2006, Joel was ranked #58 and Peter #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Joel was ranked #64 and Peter #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joel was ranked #509 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #154 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Joel was ranked #178 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #278 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #209 and Peter #286 among boys in England and Wales.
Joel and Peter over time
Joel and Peter appear together in 6 published lists, across 199 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joel in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Peter 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Joel moved ahead of Peter in England and Wales · Boys — #76 and #67 the year before became #70 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joel and Peter changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #154 and #164.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Joel and Peter averaged 47.4 places apart, ending at #209 and #286.
- Mirrored each other
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Boys, Joel rose about as far as Peter fell — from #523 and #92 in 1969 to #178 and #174 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Joel and Peter were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1976 to 2006, ending at #58 and #83.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1969–2025
Joel held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Peter in 49.
Highest recorded here: Joel #148 in 2021, Peter #72 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joel #178, Peter #174.
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1973–2025
Joel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Peter in 35.
Highest recorded here: Joel #185 in 2005, Peter #18 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joel #509, Peter #152.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1976–2006
Joel held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Peter in 19.
Highest recorded here: Joel #27 in 1987, Peter #10 in 1978.
The order changed in 1995: Joel moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #42 and #40; by 1995 that had become #39 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Joel #58, Peter #83.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Peter in 3.
Highest recorded here: Joel #62 in 2001, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Joel moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #76 and #67; by 1999 that had become #70 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #209, Peter #286.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Peter in 11.
Highest recorded here: Joel #38 in 2003, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order changed in 2022: Joel moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #134 and #134; by 2022 that had become #109 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #154, Peter #164.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1980–2007
Joel held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Peter in 17.
Highest recorded here: Joel #48 in 1985, Peter #20 in 1981.
The order changed in 1998: Joel moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #69; by 1998 that had become #72 and #85.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Joel #64, Peter #94.
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 | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpit.əɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 | Norway · Boys #178 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Peter has a recorded origin (Greek/Aramaic, biblical); Joel does not have one recorded yet.
- Joel has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Peter.
- A meaning is recorded for Peter; 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
Peter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys