Josephine vs Teresa
Josephine and Teresacompared 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 Teresa #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Josephine was ranked #253 and Teresa #571 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Teresa #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Josephine was ranked #440 and Teresa #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #483 and Teresa #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Josephine and Teresa over time
Josephine and Teresa appear together in 3 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Teresa held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Josephine in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Teresa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 Teresa changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2016, ending at #253 and #571.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Teresa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Teresa #526 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #19 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #483 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Teresa in 48.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Teresa #19 in 1964.
The order changed in 2023: Josephine moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #502 and #458; by 2023 that had become #445 and #727.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #483, Teresa #885.
Norway · Girls31 shared years, 1951–2016
Josephine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Teresa in 23.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #253 in 2016, Teresa #236 in 1961.
The order changed in 2000: Josephine moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #553 and #424; by 2000 that had become #377 and #573.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Josephine #253, Teresa #571.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Teresa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Teresa #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Teresa #1362.
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 | Teresa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Teresa.
- 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
Teresa
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #387 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls