Josephine vs Paula
Josephine and Paulacompared 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 1959, Josephine was ranked #83 and Paula #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #241 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Josephine was ranked #355 and Paula #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Josephine and Paula over time
Josephine and Paula appear together in 4 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Paula reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Josephine 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josephine and Paula changed places 13 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2025, ending at #241 and #521.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Paula #549 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #20 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #483 and #718.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1951–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Paula in 46.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #238 in 2022, Paula #251 in 1996.
The order changed in 2019: Josephine moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #337 and #279; by 2019 that had become #316 and #397.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #241, Paula #521.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 46.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2022: Josephine moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #444 and #375; by 2022 that had become #502 and #747.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Paula #1584.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2017
Josephine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paula in 3.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #229 in 1998, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order changed in 2016: Josephine moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #439 and #439; by 2016 that had become #353 and #440.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Josephine #355, Paula #432.
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 | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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) | Norway · Girls #521 (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 Paula.
- 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
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls