Ashleigh vs Jennifer
Ashleigh and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Ashleigh was ranked #47 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Ashleigh was ranked #51 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Ashleigh was ranked #440 and Jennifer #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Ashleigh was ranked #764 and Jennifer #464 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ashleigh was ranked #2788 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashleigh and Jennifer over time
Ashleigh and Jennifer appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ashleigh in 2.
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.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ashleigh 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, Ashleigh moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #25 the year before became #24 and #27.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashleigh and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #650.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #2788 and #650.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1971–2021
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 37.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #162 in 1995, Jennifer #4 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ashleigh #764, Jennifer #464.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashleigh #2788, Jennifer #650.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1985–2003
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jennifer in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #13 in 1993, Jennifer #19 in 1985.
The order changed in 1987: Ashleigh moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #31 and #25; by 1987 that had become #24 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Ashleigh #47, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1986–2003
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Jennifer in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #8 in 1992, Jennifer #24 in 1986.
The order changed in 1988: Ashleigh moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #31 and #27; by 1988 that had become #20 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Ashleigh #51, Jennifer #84.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2016
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jennifer in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #87 in 1997, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Ashleigh #440, Jennifer #353.
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 | Ashleigh | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 53/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Ashleigh does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashleigh has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Ashleigh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashleigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls