Josephine vs Maya
Josephine and Mayacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Josephine was ranked #267 and Maya #15 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Josephine was ranked #295 and Maya #19 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Maya #40 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2016, Josephine was ranked #97 and Maya #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #241 and Maya #86 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Josephine was ranked #355 and Maya #99 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Josephine and Maya over time
Josephine and Maya appear together in 4 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Maya held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Josephine in 0.
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.
Josephine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Maya 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 1998, Maya moved ahead of Josephine in England and Wales · Girls — #168 and #229 the year before became #180 and #173.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josephine and Maya changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1961 and 2025, ending at #241 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Maya were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 59 years, from 1961 to 2025, ending at #241 and #86.
List by list
Norway · Girls59 shared years, 1961–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Maya in 47.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #238 in 2022, Maya #66 in 2016.
The order changed in 1994: Maya moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #399 and #425; by 1994 that had become #582 and #328.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #241, Maya #86.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Josephine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maya in 27.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Maya #15 in 2024.
The order changed in 1998: Maya moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #168 and #229; by 1998 that had become #180 and #173.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josephine #267, Maya #15.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Maya in 25.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #156 in 1997, Maya #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 2004: Maya moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #220 and #233; by 2004 that had become #677 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Maya #40.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2002–2017
Josephine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Maya in 8.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #252 in 2002, Maya #88 in 2016.
The order changed in 2004: Maya moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #252 and #339; by 2004 that had become #273 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Josephine #355, Maya #99.
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 | Maya |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #40 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Maya.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #241 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Maya
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls