Josh vs Scott
Josh and Scottcompared 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 · Boys
In 2000, Josh was ranked #87 and Scott #74 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #177 and Scott #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Josh was ranked #188 and Scott #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #218 and Scott #199 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #857 and Scott #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Josh and Scott over time
Josh and Scott appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Josh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Scott in 1.
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.
Scott reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Josh 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 2007, Josh moved ahead of Scott in Northern Ireland · Boys — #76 and #49 the year before became #76 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josh and Scott changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #857 and #1025.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Josh and Scott averaged 56.2 places apart, ending at #857 and #1025.
- Longest-running competitions
Josh and Scott were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #188 and #198.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Josh #38 in 2005, Scott #36 in 2004.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Josh held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Scott in 23.
Highest recorded here: Josh #56 in 2003, Scott #42 in 2004.
The order changed in 2019: Josh moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #105 and #96; by 2019 that had become #96 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josh #188, Scott #198.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Josh held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Scott in 12.
Highest recorded here: Josh #84 in 2002, Scott #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Josh moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #791 and #691; by 2024 that had become #857 and #1025.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josh #857, Scott #1025.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Josh held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Scott in 9.
Highest recorded here: Josh #38 in 2005, Scott #36 in 2004.
The order changed in 2007: Josh moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #76 and #49; by 2007 that had become #76 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josh #177, Scott #239.
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 | Josh | Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An English/Scottish surname referring to a person from Scotland or a Scottish Gaelic speaker, from Latin 'Scoti' ('Gael, Gaelic speaker') — the ultimate origin of that Latin term is itself uncertain. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English/Scottish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈskɑt/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #188 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Scott has a recorded origin (English/Scottish (surname origin)); Josh does not have one recorded yet.
- Josh and Scott both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Scott; Josh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Josh
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Scott
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1957–1999
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1957–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #365 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys