Josephine vs Selam
Josephine and Selamcompared 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 2011, Josephine was ranked #261 and Selam #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2002, Josephine was ranked #621 and Selam #526 among girls in Norway.
Josephine and Selam over time
Josephine and Selam appear together in 1 published list, across 20 years of shared records. Josephine held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Selam in 0.
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.
Selam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Josephine in none. 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 Selam changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1975 and 2002, ending at #621 and #526.
List by list
Norway · Girls20 shared years, 1975–2002
Josephine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Selam in 9.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #377 in 2000, Selam #254 in 1991.
The order changed in 2002: Selam moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #377 and #626; by 2002 that had become #621 and #526.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Josephine #621, Selam #526.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Josephine
Pairs where Josephine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #483.
Anna · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carmel vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #21 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #896 and #462.
Carmel · Josephine · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #445.
Susan · Josephine · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Josephine
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #25 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #483.
Maria · Josephine · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Josephine | Selam |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5785 (2011) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Selam.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
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
Selam
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #566 among girls in Norway in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2002
Highest recorded position: #254 among girls in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1975–2002).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #5785 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011.
England and Wales · Girls