Julia vs Kathleen
Julia and Kathleencompared 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 1984, Julia was ranked #39 and Kathleen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1988, Julia was ranked #96 and Kathleen #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #118 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #212 and Kathleen #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #244 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.
Julia and Kathleen over time
Julia and Kathleen appear together in 4 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Julia 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Julia moved ahead of Kathleen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #226 and #193 the year before became #145 and #238.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #244 and #997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Kathleen in 41.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Kathleen #18 in 1965.
The order changed in 2005: Julia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #149 and #140; by 2005 that had become #97 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #118, Kathleen #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Kathleen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Kathleen #227 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #244, Kathleen #997.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Kathleen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Julia #68 in 2011, Kathleen #112 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Julia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #226 and #193; by 2006 that had become #145 and #238.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #212, Kathleen #407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1970–1988
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kathleen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Julia #78 in 1970, Kathleen #59 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Julia #96, Kathleen #91.
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 | Julia | Kathleen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Julia and Kathleen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #244 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls