Joseph vs Kerry
Joseph and Kerrycompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2010, Joseph was ranked #15 and Kerry #4678 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1978, Joseph was ranked #23 and Kerry #326 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1977, Joseph was ranked #34 and Kerry #100 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1956, Joseph was ranked #52 and Kerry #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Joseph and Kerry over time
Joseph and Kerry appear together in 2 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Joseph held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kerry 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.
Kerry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Joseph 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 1971, Joseph moved ahead of Kerry in New Zealand · Boys — #84 and #70 the year before became #64 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joseph and Kerry changed places 9 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1977, ending at #34 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph and Kerry averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #34 and #100.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1954–1977
Joseph held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kerry in 10.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #34 in 1977, Kerry #55 in 1962.
The order changed in 1971: Joseph moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #84 and #70; by 1971 that had become #64 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1977: Joseph #34, Kerry #100.
England and Wales · Boys9 shared years, 1996–2010
Joseph held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Kerry in 0.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Kerry #1578 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Joseph #15, Kerry #4678.
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 | Joseph | Kerry |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joseph and Kerry both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Joseph
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Kerry
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls