Angela vs Deborah
Angela and Deborahcompared 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 1980, Angela was ranked #21 and Deborah #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Angela was ranked #28 and Deborah #94 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Angela was ranked #330 and Deborah #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2014, Angela was ranked #507 and Deborah #476 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Deborah #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #1198 and Deborah #708 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Deborah over time
Angela and Deborah appear together in 6 published lists, across 172 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Angela in 2.
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.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Angela in 1. 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 1969, Angela moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #29 and #23 the year before became #24 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Deborah changed places 16 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1198 and #708.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Deborah averaged 40.0 places apart, ending at #21 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Deborah were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 31 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #28 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Deborah #302 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Deborah in 35.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Deborah #38 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Deborah #608.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1954–1985
Angela held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Deborah in 14.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Deborah #3 in 1966.
The order changed in 1968: Angela moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #7 and #4; by 1968 that had become #8 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Angela #28, Deborah #94.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Deborah in 17.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Deborah #302 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #1198, Deborah #708.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1955–1980
Angela held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Deborah in 13.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Deborah #3 in 1957.
The order changed in 1969: Angela moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #29 and #23; by 1969 that had become #24 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Angela #21, Deborah #86.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 1957–2014
Angela held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Deborah in 4.
Highest recorded here: Angela #311 in 1983, Deborah #368 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Angela #507, Deborah #476.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2012
Angela held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Deborah in 4.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Deborah #116 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Angela moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #413 and #351; by 2009 that had become #364 and #419.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Angela #330, Deborah #451.
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 | Angela | Deborah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Angela does not have one recorded yet.
- Angela and Deborah both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Angela 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
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls