Joseph vs William
Joseph and Williamcompared 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 2025, Joseph was ranked #465 and William #3 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #33 and William #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Joseph was ranked #69 and William #14 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #56 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #34 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joseph was ranked #64 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joseph was ranked #82 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Joseph and William over time
Joseph and William appear together in 6 published lists, across 332 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joseph in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, William 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2003, William moved ahead of Joseph in England and Wales · Boys — #8 and #9 the year before became #10 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joseph and William changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #69 and #14.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Joseph and William averaged 10.6 places apart, ending at #56 and #27.
- Longest-running competitions
Joseph and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 74 years, from 1952 to 2025, ending at #33 and #11.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Joseph #11 in 1964, William #8 in 1964.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys74 shared years, 1952–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 3 of those years, William in 71.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #32 in 2005, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #33, William #11.
New Zealand · Boys70 shared years, 1954–2023
Joseph held the stronger position in 2 of those years, William in 68.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #18 in 1988, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joseph #69, William #14.
Norway · Boys69 shared years, 1949–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 2 of those years, William in 67.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #272 in 1985, William #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #465, William #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Joseph held the stronger position in 32 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #11 in 1964, William #8 in 1964.
The order changed in 2025: Joseph moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #70 and #67; by 2025 that had become #64 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joseph #64, William #73.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 7 of those years, William in 22.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #7 in 2000, William #7 in 2006.
The order changed in 2003: William moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #8 and #9; by 2003 that had become #10 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #56, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Joseph held the stronger position in 19 of those years, William in 9.
Highest recorded here: Joseph #22 in 2013, William #26 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Joseph moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #76 and #58; by 2024 that had become #34 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joseph #34, William #64.
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 | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪljəm/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #33 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Joseph does not have one recorded yet.
- Joseph and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; 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 recorded1996–2024
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
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys