Barbara vs Denise
Barbara and Denisecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Denise #61 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Denise #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Barbara was ranked #495 and Denise #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Denise #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Denise over time
Barbara and Denise appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Denise held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barbara 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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Denise 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 1961, Denise moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #22 and #23 the year before became #32 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Denise changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #495 and #834.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Denise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #4867.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Denise #664 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2020
Barbara held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Denise in 39.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Denise #31 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Barbara #495, Denise #834.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Barbara held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Denise in 9.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Denise #664 in 1998.
The order changed in 2007: Barbara moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #1660 and #1386; by 2007 that had become #1234 and #1384.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barbara #2440, Denise #4867.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Denise in 12.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Denise #22 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Denise #97.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Denise in 10.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Denise #23 in 1960.
The order changed in 1961: Denise moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #22 and #23; by 1961 that had become #32 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Denise #61.
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
Other comparisons involving Denise
Pairs where Denise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alice vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #57 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2020 they were #33 and #834.
Alice · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Orla vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #52 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2020 they were #160 and #834.
Orla · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Denise vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2020 they were #834 and #168.
Denise · Jane · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2020 they were #315 and #834.
Louise · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Barbara | Denise |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara and Denise both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
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
Denise
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #24 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 recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls