Abigail vs Bethany
Abigail and Bethanycompared 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 2004, Abigail was ranked #71 and Bethany #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Bethany #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Bethany #384 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Bethany #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Bethany #539 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Bethany over time
Abigail and Bethany appear together in 3 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bethany in 0.
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.
Bethany reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Abigail 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Abigail moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2004 as Bethany fell out of it to #54, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Abigail moved ahead of Bethany in England and Wales · Girls — #22 and #17 the year before became #20 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Abigail and Bethany averaged 54.6 places apart, ending at #154 and #539.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Bethany were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #115 and #544.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #19 in 2000, Bethany #11 in 1999.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #154 and #539.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Bethany in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Bethany #179 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Bethany #544.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Bethany in 7.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Bethany #11 in 1999.
The order changed in 2003: Abigail moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #22 and #17; by 2003 that had become #20 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Bethany #539.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Bethany in 7.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Bethany #32 in 1998.
The order changed in 2004: Abigail moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #41 and #34; by 2004 that had become #37 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Bethany #253.
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 | Abigail | Bethany |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Abigail and Bethany both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls