Angela vs Donna
Angela and Donna compared 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 1982, Angela was ranked #21 and Donna #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Angela was ranked #26 and Donna #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Angela was ranked #316 and Donna #372 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #372 and Donna #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #1198 and Donna #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Donna over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Angela and Donna over time
Angela and Donna appear together in 4 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Angela held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Donna in 1.
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.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 1973, Angela moved ahead of Donna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #21 the year before became #23 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Donna changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2024, ending at #372 and #736.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Donna averaged 32.3 places apart, ending at #21 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Donna were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 31 years, from 1954 to 1984, ending at #26 and #90.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Donna #441 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Donna in 24.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Donna #33 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #372, Donna #736.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1954–1984
Angela held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Donna in 13.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Donna #6 in 1965.
The order changed in 1967: Angela moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #13 and #11; by 1967 that had become #7 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Angela #26, Donna #90.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Donna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Donna #441 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #1198, Donna #5891.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1955–1982
Angela held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Donna in 17.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Donna #5 in 1964.
The order changed in 1973: Angela moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #27 and #21; by 1973 that had become #23 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Angela #21, Donna #79.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Angela
Pairs where Angela shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Maria vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #608.
Maria · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Angela
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #24 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #608.
Nora · Angela · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #166.
Angela · Ellen · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Angela vs Deirdre
In 1964 they stood at #24 and #14 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2019 they were #551 and #871.
Angela · Deirdre · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Donna
Pairs where Donna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Donna vs Denise
Donna and Denise changed places 16 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #834 and #834.
Donna · Denise · 52 shared years, 1964–2020 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Donna vs Lorraine
Donna and Lorraine changed places 14 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2013, ending at #894 and #894.
Donna · Lorraine · 48 shared years, 1964–2013 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Donna vs Stacey
Donna and Stacey changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1977 and 2024, ending at #736 and #898.
Donna · Stacey · 37 shared years, 1977–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Karen vs Donna
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Karen #1 in 1963, Donna #5 in 1964.
Karen · Donna · 30 shared years, 1953–1982 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Angela | Donna |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Donna.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls