Joseph vs Ryan
Joseph and Ryan compared 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 Ryan #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #34 and Ryan #104 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #69 and Ryan #57 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and Ryan #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #59 and Ryan #135 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and Ryan #104 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #465 and Ryan #364 among boys in Norway.
Joseph and Ryan over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Joseph and Ryan over time
Joseph and Ryan appear together in 6 published lists, across 260 years of shared records. Ryan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joseph 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 1997, Joseph moved ahead of Ryan in England and Wales · Boys — #8 and #7 the year before became #8 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joseph and Ryan changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1973 and 2025, ending at #33 and #81.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Joseph and Ryan averaged 31.7 places apart, ending at #59 and #135.
- Longest-running competitions
Joseph and Ryan were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #59 and #135.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Joseph #32 in 2005, Ryan #8 in 2004.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1971–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Ryan in 33.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #16 in 1974, Ryan #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 1993: Ryan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #31 and #40; by 1993 that had become #27 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, Ryan #57.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys53 shared years, 1973–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Ryan in 45.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #32 in 2005, Ryan #8 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #33, Ryan #81.
New Zealand · Boys52 shared years, 1972–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ryan in 36.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #18 in 1988, Ryan #10 in 2006.
The order changed in 2023: Ryan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #61 and #69; by 2023 that had become #69 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #69, Ryan #57.
Norway · Boys42 shared years, 1977–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Ryan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #272 in 1985, Ryan #249 in 2015.
The order changed in 2024: Ryan moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #430 and #484; by 2024 that had become #491 and #384.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #465, Ryan #364.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ryan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Ryan #7 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Joseph moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1997 that had become #8 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #59, Ryan #135.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ryan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, Ryan #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Joseph moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #76 and #76; by 2024 that had become #34 and #104.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, Ryan #104.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Joseph
Pairs where Joseph shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joseph vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Noel
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #402.
Joseph · Noel · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #36 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2023 they were #76 and #395.
Joseph · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Ryan
Pairs where Ryan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ryan vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #2 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #104 and #404.
Ryan · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ryan vs Eoin
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ryan rose about as far as Eoin fell — from #280 and #65 in 1971 to #57 and #106 in 2025.
Ryan · Eoin · 55 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- George vs Ryan
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ryan rose about as far as George fell — from #74 and #280 in 1971 to #112 and #57 in 2025.
George · Ryan · 55 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ryan vs Marcus
Over 55 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Ryan rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #280 and #107 in 1971 to #57 and #232 in 2025.
Ryan · Marcus · 55 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #45 and #61 in 1954 to #12 and #100 in 2005.
Thomas · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Joseph | Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, a patronymic from the given name Rian. The exact meaning of Rian itself remains uncertain, despite a popular but unconfirmed 'little king' gloss. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹaɪ.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #57 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ryan has a recorded origin (Irish (surname origin)); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ryan.
- A meaning is recorded for Ryan; Joseph 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
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Ryan
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #280 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls