Joshua vs Malachi
Joshua and Malachicompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Joshua was ranked #46 and Malachi #312 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Joshua was ranked #53 and Malachi #292 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joshua was ranked #60 and Malachi #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joshua was ranked #81 and Malachi #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Joshua and Malachi over time
Joshua and Malachi appear together in 3 published lists, across 59 years of shared records. Joshua held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Malachi 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.
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 2000, Joshua moved ahead of Malachi in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #321 and #290 the year before became #34 and #390.
- Longest-running competitions
Joshua and Malachi were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #53 and #292.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Joshua #6 in 2003, Malachi #210 in 2003.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Joshua held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Joshua #2 in 2002, Malachi #191 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joshua #53, Malachi #292.
Republic of Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 1975–2025
Joshua held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Malachi in 1.
Highest recorded here: Joshua #22 in 2004, Malachi #290 in 1975.
The order changed in 2000: Joshua moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #321 and #290; by 2000 that had become #34 and #390.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joshua #81, Malachi #577.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2003–2023
Joshua held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Malachi in 0.
Highest recorded here: Joshua #6 in 2003, Malachi #210 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Joshua #46, Malachi #312.
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 Joshua
Pairs where Joshua shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joshua vs Samuel
Joshua and Samuel changed places 16 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1974 and 2023, ending at #67 and #50.
Joshua · Samuel · 50 shared years, 1974–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Jake
Joshua and Jake changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1983 and 2025, ending at #81 and #95.
Joshua · Jake · 41 shared years, 1983–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Conor
Joshua and Conor changed places 12 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #63 and #51.
Joshua · Conor · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joshua vs Blake
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Joshua #1 in 1993, Blake #21 in 1995.
Joshua · Blake · 35 shared years, 1982–2016 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Joshua | Malachi |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Hebrew Yehoshua, combining 'yeho' (referring to God) with 'yasha' ('to save') — 'Yahweh is salvation'. Joshua succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelites in the Old Testament. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɑʃ.u.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #53 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #292 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joshua has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Malachi does not have one recorded yet.
- Joshua has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Malachi.
- A meaning is recorded for Joshua; Malachi doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Joshua
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #77 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1971–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Malachi
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #290 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #191 among boys in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #292 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys