Julie vs Paula
Julie and Paulacompared 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 1976, Julie was ranked #27 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #60 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Julie was ranked #87 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Julie was ranked #439 and Paula #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #483 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #1639 and Paula #1584 among girls in England and Wales.
Julie and Paula over time
Julie and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 217 years of shared records. Julie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Paula in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 3 of those lists, Paula in 2. 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
Julie and Paula changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1639 and #1584.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Julie and Paula averaged 30.3 places apart, ending at #87 and #93.
- Mirrored each other
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Girls, Julie rose about as far as Paula fell — from #305 and #264 in 1945 to #60 and #521 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Julie and Paula were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1639 and #1584.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julie #436 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls73 shared years, 1945–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 64 of those years, Paula in 9.
Highest recorded here: Julie #1 in 2001, Paula #247 in 1948.
The order changed in 1968: Julie moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #390 and #295; by 1968 that had become #261 and #565.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #60, Paula #521.
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Paula in 20.
Highest recorded here: Julie #51 in 1977, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2020: Julie moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #457 and #421; by 2020 that had become #275 and #375.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #483, Paula #718.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Paula in 21.
Highest recorded here: Julie #436 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Paula moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2063 and #2504; by 2024 that had become #2000 and #1491.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #1639, Paula #1584.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1954–1984
Julie held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Paula in 2.
Highest recorded here: Julie #4 in 1964, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Julie #87, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Julie held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julie #5 in 1954, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Julie #27, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2008
Julie held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Paula in 3.
Highest recorded here: Julie #112 in 1998, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Paula moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #316 and #372; by 2008 that had become #439 and #370.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Julie #439, Paula #370.
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 | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #60 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julie and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- 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 #1639 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls