Barbara vs Charlotte
Barbara and Charlottecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Charlotte #25 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Charlotte #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Charlotte #103 among girls in Norway.
Barbara and Charlotte over time
Barbara and Charlotte appear together in 3 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Charlotte held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barbara in 0.
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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Charlotte 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, Charlotte moved ahead of Barbara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #144 and #173 the year before became #164 and #152.
- Mirrored each other
Over 48 shared years in Norway · Girls, Charlotte rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #271 and #345 in 1946 to #543 and #103 in 2015.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Charlotte were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #25.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Charlotte in 33.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Charlotte #39 in 2018.
The order changed in 1987: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #144 and #173; by 1987 that had become #164 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Charlotte #60.
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Charlotte in 37.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Charlotte #12 in 1990.
The order changed in 1964: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #227 and #239; by 1964 that had become #256 and #207.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Charlotte #103.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Charlotte in 30.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Charlotte #5 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barbara #2440, Charlotte #25.
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 | Barbara | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Free man (feminine form of Charles). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | French, feminine of Charles |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɑɹlət/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Charlotte has a recorded origin (French, feminine of Charles); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara and Charlotte both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Charlotte; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Barbara a "medium" Data Confidence level and Charlotte a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Charlotte
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1989–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recorded 1989–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls