Josephine vs Linda
Josephine and Lindacompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1960, Josephine was ranked #99 and Linda #13 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Josephine was ranked #229 and Linda #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Josephine was ranked #293 and Linda #376 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Josephine and Linda over time
Josephine and Linda appear together in 3 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Linda held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Josephine in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josephine and Linda changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #483 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Linda were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Linda #638 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #28 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #483 and #718.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1951–2024
Josephine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Linda in 50.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #238 in 2022, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order changed in 2016: Josephine moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #436 and #394; by 2016 that had become #253 and #459.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josephine #293, Linda #376.
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Linda in 43.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Linda #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Linda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Linda #1892.
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 | Josephine | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 4 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Linda.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #256 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls