Josiah vs Keegan
Josiah and Keegancompared 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 2001, Josiah was ranked #98 and Keegan #99 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Josiah was ranked #226 and Keegan #953 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Josiah was ranked #256 and Keegan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Josiah was ranked #577 and Keegan #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Josiah was ranked #619 and Keegan #478 among boys in Scotland.
Josiah and Keegan over time
Josiah and Keegan appear together in 3 published lists, across 53 years of shared records. Keegan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Josiah in 1.
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.
Keegan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Josiah 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
Josiah and Keegan changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #226 and #953.
- Longest-running competitions
Josiah and Keegan were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #226 and #953.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Josiah #226 in 2021, Keegan #185 in 2019.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josiah held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Keegan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Josiah #212 in 2024, Keegan #306 in 2008.
The order changed in 2011: Josiah moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #317 and #308; by 2011 that had become #313 and #349.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josiah #226, Keegan #953.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2010–2024
Josiah held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Keegan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Josiah #226 in 2021, Keegan #185 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josiah #256, Keegan #305.
Republic of Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2011–2025
Josiah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Keegan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Josiah #516 in 2023, Keegan #168 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josiah #577, Keegan #348.
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 | Josiah | Keegan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #226 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josiah and Keegan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Josiah
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #588 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Keegan
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2683 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2001
Highest recorded position: #70 among boys in New Zealand, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2001).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #953 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys