Amanda vs Rachel
Amanda and Rachelcompared 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 1999, Amanda was ranked #84 and Rachel #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Amanda was ranked #72 and Rachel #28 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Amanda was ranked #52 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #608 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amanda was ranked #354 and Rachel #201 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amanda was ranked #1036 and Rachel #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Rachel over time
Amanda and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 216 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Amanda in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1991, Rachel moved ahead of Amanda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #13 and #18 the year before became #20 and #10.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amanda and Rachel changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1965 and 1997, ending at #72 and #28.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Rachel averaged 21.0 places apart, ending at #84 and #25.
- Mirrored each other
Over 45 shared years in Norway · Girls, Amanda rose about as far as Rachel fell — from #556 and #296 in 1971 to #52 and #472 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Rachel were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 32 years, from 1968 to 1999, ending at #84 and #25.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rachel in 47.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 1987: Rachel moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #15 and #21; by 1987 that had become #21 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #608, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1971–2024
Amanda held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Rachel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #26 in 2016, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order changed in 1986: Amanda moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #433 and #332; by 1986 that had become #253 and #283.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #52, Rachel #472.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1965–1997
Amanda held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Rachel in 23.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Rachel #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 1990: Rachel moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #10 and #11; by 1990 that had become #20 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Amanda #72, Rachel #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1968–1999
Amanda held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachel in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order changed in 1991: Rachel moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #13 and #18; by 1991 that had become #20 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Amanda #84, Rachel #25.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 29.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #1036, Rachel #377.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2022
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachel in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Rachel #9 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amanda #354, Rachel #201.
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 | Amanda | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
- Amanda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachel.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls