Alice vs Barbara
Alice and Barbaracompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alice was ranked #38 and Barbara #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alice was ranked #49 and Barbara #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Alice was ranked #123 and Barbara #543 among girls in Norway.
Alice and Barbara over time
Alice and Barbara appear together in 3 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Alice held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Barbara in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alice 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Alice moved ahead of Barbara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #158 and #144 the year before became #116 and #164.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alice and Barbara changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2015, ending at #123 and #543.
- Longest-running competitions
Alice and Barbara were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #123 and #543.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Alice held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Barbara in 23.
Highest recorded here: Alice #29 in 2022, Barbara #43 in 1964.
The order changed in 1987: Alice moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #158 and #144; by 1987 that had become #116 and #164.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alice #38, Barbara #856.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Alice held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Barbara in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alice #123 in 2015, Barbara #167 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alice #123, Barbara #543.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alice held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Barbara in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alice #17 in 2016, Barbara #848 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alice #49, Barbara #2000.
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 | Alice | Barbara |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #41 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alice and Barbara both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Alice
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #292 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2016 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Barbara
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #271 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls