Julia
Say it: JOO-lee-a/ˈd͡ʒuːli.ə/
GirlMeans of the Julius family5 letters3 syllables
#118
in Ireland (2025)
#109 with spellings combined
43
babies in 2025
#31
best rank (2009)
4,816
babies since 1964
Down 59
10-year rank change
Julia through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | #109 |
| 2024 | 67 | #76 |
| 2023 | 54 | #95 |
| 2022 | 54 | #101 |
| 2021 | 84 | #70 |
| 2020 | 72 | #75 |
| 2019 | 99 | #58 |
| 2018 | 127 | #43 |
| 2017 | 133 | #46 |
| 2016 | 128 | #49 |
| 2015 | 130 | #50 |
| 2014 | 156 | #40 |
| 2013 | 186 | #34 |
| 2012 | 196 | #34 |
| 2011 | 213 | #35 |
| 2010 | 213 | #35 |
| 2009 | 236 | #31 |
| 2008 | 213 | #34 |
| 2007 | 140 | #49 |
| 2006 | 85 | #71 |
| 2005 | 61 | #97 |
| 2004 | 30 | #149 |
| 2003 | 31 | #143 |
| 2002 | 28 | #148 |
| 2001 | 29 | #142 |
| 2000 | 18 | #195 |
| 1999 | 23 | #158 |
| 1998 | 23 | #152 |
| 1997 | 22 | #200 |
| 1996 | 33 | #150 |
| 1995 | 27 | #162 |
| 1994 | 31 | #150 |
| 1993 | 25 | #174 |
| 1992 | 20 | #203 |
| 1991 | 21 | #193 |
| 1990 | 31 | #157 |
| 1989 | 34 | #148 |
| 1988 | 23 | #191 |
| 1987 | 31 | #164 |
| 1986 | 18 | #220 |
| 1985 | 25 | #197 |
| 1984 | 36 | #163 |
| 1983 | 29 | #185 |
| 1982 | 33 | #173 |
| 1981 | 47 | #144 |
| 1980 | 42 | #168 |
| 1979 | 34 | #178 |
| 1978 | 54 | #133 |
| 1977 | 52 | #136 |
| 1976 | 50 | #146 |
| 1975 | 56 | #127 |
| 1974 | 56 | #134 |
| 1973 | 65 | #124 |
| 1972 | 78 | #104 |
| 1971 | 96 | #88 |
| 1970 | 108 | #76 |
| 1969 | 111 | #68 |
| 1968 | 111 | #65 |
| 1967 | 122 | #58 |
| 1966 | 113 | #59 |
| 1965 | 153 | #45 |
| 1964 | 157 | #42 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Julia mean?
Of the Julius family
Latin Iulia, the feminine of the Roman family name Iulius.
Say it right
JOOleea
Some people say it in two syllables, JOOL-ya.
The story of Julia
Julia is the feminine form of Julius, the name of an old Roman family, the gens Iulia. Its deeper meaning is not known for sure. It was used in late Roman times and by early Christian saints, grew rare in the Middle Ages, and came back with the Italian Renaissance. It became common in English only in the eighteenth century.
In Ireland Julia had an extra role. It was sometimes used as an English equivalent of the Irish name Síle, which is why an Irish Julia might be known as Sheila at home.
Julia was fairly common in the 1960s, then quieter for a few decades before rising again. The count was highest in 2009, with 236 girls. That year it also reached number 31, its best rank. In 2025 Julia and Júlia together came to number 109, while Julia alone was number 118.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Julia (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Síle (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Julia (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Jules
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Julia | 39 | 4,797 |
| Júlia | 4 | 19 |
In Northern Ireland
#146 in 2025 with 13 babies. Best rank #68 (2011); 474 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.