Joseph vs Noah
Joseph and Noahcompared 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 2025, Joseph was ranked #33 and Noah #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #69 and Noah #1 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #465 and Noah #1 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and Noah #1 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #56 and Noah #2 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #34 and Noah #3 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and Noah #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Joseph and Noah over time
Joseph and Noah appear together in 6 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Noah held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Joseph in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Joseph reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Noah 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 2011, Noah moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #15 and #18 the year before became #18 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Joseph and Noah averaged 57.8 places apart, ending at #56 and #2.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Noah rose about as far as Joseph fell — from #34 and #295 in 1996 to #64 and #3 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Joseph and Noah were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 31 years, from 1990 to 2025, ending at #465 and #1.
List by list
Norway · Boys31 shared years, 1990–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Noah in 28.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #275 in 2017, Noah #1 in 2021.
The order changed in 1996: Noah moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #303 and #464; by 1996 that had become #364 and #332.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #465, Noah #1.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Noah in 16.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #31 in 1999, Noah #2 in 2021.
The order changed in 2010: Noah moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #36 and #41; by 2010 that had become #38 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, Noah #3.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Noah in 14.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Noah #1 in 2021.
The order changed in 2011: Noah moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #15 and #18; by 2011 that had become #18 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #56, Noah #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1998–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Noah in 24.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #32 in 2005, Noah #1 in 2022.
The order changed in 2002: Noah moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #38 and #39; by 2002 that had become #37 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #33, Noah #1.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1998–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Noah in 16.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, Noah #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 2009: Noah moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #31 and #42; by 2009 that had become #38 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, Noah #3.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Noah in 19.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #23 in 2001, Noah #1 in 2023.
The order changed in 2005: Noah moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #26 and #36; by 2005 that had become #27 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #69, Noah #1.
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 | Noah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'rest' or 'comfort'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnoʊə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Noa, Noé |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Noah has a recorded origin (Hebrew); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Noah.
- A meaning is recorded for Noah; Joseph doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Joseph a "medium" Data Confidence level and Noah a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Noah
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #640 among boys in Norway in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2021 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys