Joseph vs Theodore
Joseph and Theodorecompared 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 Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #69 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #56 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #34 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Joseph and Theodore over time
Joseph and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Joseph held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Theodore 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.
Joseph reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Theodore in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Theodore moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2017 as Joseph fell out of it to #51, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2019, Theodore moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #27 and #29 the year before became #34 and #18.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Joseph #33 in 2025, Theodore #3 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Theodore in 6.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2019: Theodore moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #27 and #29; by 2019 that had become #34 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #56, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Theodore in 3.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #11 in 1964, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2022: Theodore moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #48 and #72; by 2022 that had become #62 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Theodore in 2.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, Theodore #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Theodore in 9.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #33 in 2025, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #42 and #46; by 2017 that had become #47 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #33, Theodore #3.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Theodore in 7.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #33 in 2015, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #47 and #59; by 2017 that had become #51 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #69, Theodore #6.
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 | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Theodore has a recorded origin (Greek); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- A meaning is recorded for Theodore; Joseph doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Joseph a "medium" Data Confidence level and Theodore 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
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys