Julie vs Laura
Julie and Lauracompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1987, Julie was ranked #93 and Laura #14 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Julie was ranked #97 and Laura #14 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Julie was ranked #439 and Laura #53 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #60 and Laura #141 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #483 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julie was ranked #2000 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Julie and Laura over time
Julie and Laura appear together in 6 published lists, across 192 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Julie in 2.
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.
Julie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Laura 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1981 as Julie fell out of it to #62, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Laura moved ahead of Julie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #49 and #60 the year before became #62 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julie and Laura changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #60 and #141.
- Longest-running competitions
Julie and Laura were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 70 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #60 and #141.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julie #436 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls70 shared years, 1945–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 65 of those years, Laura in 5.
Highest recorded here: Julie #1 in 2001, Laura #99 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #60, Laura #141.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 62.
Highest recorded here: Julie #51 in 1977, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #483, Laura #112.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Julie #436 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julie #2000, Laura #258.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1976–1987
Julie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Laura in 7.
Highest recorded here: Julie #27 in 1976, Laura #13 in 1986.
The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #49 and #60; by 1981 that had become #62 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Julie #93, Laura #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2008
Julie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 10.
Highest recorded here: Julie #112 in 1998, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Julie #439, Laura #53.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1978–1986
Julie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Laura in 4.
Highest recorded here: Julie #34 in 1978, Laura #13 in 1985.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #47 and #57; by 1983 that had become #62 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julie #97, Laura #14.
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 | Julie | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #60 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Julie does not have one recorded yet.
- Julie and Laura both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Julie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls