Johannes vs Paul
Johannes 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Johannes was ranked #6 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Johannes was ranked #2952 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.
Johannes and Paul over time
Johannes and Paul appear together in 2 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Johannes 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.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Johannes 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, Johannes moved ahead of Paul in Norway · Boys — #161 and #154 the year before became #119 and #159.
- Longest-running competitions
Johannes and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2952 and #602.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Johannes #1168 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #75 and #73 in Norway · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #6 and #370.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2024
Johannes held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Paul in 41.
Highest recorded here: Johannes #6 in 2024, Paul #67 in 1946.
The order changed in 1989: Johannes moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #161 and #154; by 1989 that had become #119 and #159.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Johannes #6, Paul #370.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Johannes held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 30.
Highest recorded here: Johannes #1168 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Johannes #2952, Paul #602.
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 | Johannes | 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 | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paul has a recorded origin (Latin); Johannes does not have one recorded yet.
- Johannes has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- A meaning is recorded for Paul; Johannes doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Johannes
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #75 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2024 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2952 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys