Josephine vs Siobhán
Josephine and Siobháncompared 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 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Siobhán #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Josephine was ranked #377 and Siobhán #278 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Josephine and Siobhán over time
Josephine and Siobhán appear together in 2 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Josephine moved ahead of Siobhán in England and Wales · Girls — #168 and #162 the year before became #180 and #187.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Siobhán were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #483 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Siobhán in 52.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Siobhán #15 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Siobhán #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Siobhán in 2.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Josephine moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #168 and #162; by 1998 that had become #180 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Siobhán #3705.
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 | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Josephine does not have one recorded yet.
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Josephine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Josephine a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls