Barbara vs Christel
Barbara and Christelcompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2006, Barbara was ranked #587 and Christel #591 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2018, Barbara was ranked #886 and Christel #5666 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Christel over time
Barbara and Christel appear together in 2 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Christel in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Christel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Barbara 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Christel changed places 10 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2006, ending at #587 and #591.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Christel were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 37 years, from 1953 to 2006, ending at #587 and #591.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #167 in 1983, Christel #170 in 1983.
List by list
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1953–2006
Barbara held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Christel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1983, Christel #170 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Barbara #587, Christel #591.
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 1998–2018
Barbara held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Christel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #886 in 2018, Christel #3382 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Barbara #886, Christel #5666.
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 Barbara
Pairs where Barbara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #23 and #856.
Anna · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #62 and #856.
Sarah · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Barbara
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #43 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #73 and #856.
Maria · Barbara · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Barbara vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #43 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #94.
Barbara · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Barbara | Christel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #5666 (2018) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Christel.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Christel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #339 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2017
Highest recorded position: #170 among girls in Norway, in 1983 (recorded 1945–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #5666 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018.
England and Wales · Girls