Abigail vs Claire
Abigail and Clairecompared 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 2013, Abigail was ranked #42 and Claire #96 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2022, Abigail was ranked #50 and Claire #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Claire #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Claire #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Claire #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #171 and Claire #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Abigail and Claire over time
Abigail and Claire appear together in 4 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Abigail held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Claire in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Abigail moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2008 as Claire fell out of it to #54, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Abigail moved ahead of Claire in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #43 and #40 the year before became #34 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Abigail and Claire averaged 25.0 places apart, ending at #50 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Claire were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #171 and #1362.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Claire in 31.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Claire #10 in 1984.
The order changed in 2003: Abigail moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #68 and #54; by 2003 that had become #54 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Claire #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Claire in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Claire #90 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #171, Claire #1362.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Claire in 5.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Claire #26 in 1998.
The order changed in 2002: Abigail moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #59 and #48; by 2002 that had become #49 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Claire #407.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 2002–2022
Abigail held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Claire in 3.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Claire #40 in 2007.
The order changed in 2008: Abigail moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #43 and #40; by 2008 that had become #34 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Abigail #50, Claire #86.
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 | Claire |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /klɛʁ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Clara |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Claire.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Abigail a "medium" Data Confidence level and Claire a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls