Barbara vs Elise
Barbara and Elisecompared 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 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Elise #38 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Elise #212 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Elise #320 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Elise over time
Barbara and Elise appear together in 3 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Elise 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 Elise 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 1976, Elise moved ahead of Barbara in Norway · Girls — #208 and #237 the year before became #249 and #190.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Elise changed places 13 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2015, ending at #543 and #38.
- Mirrored each other
Over 55 shared years in Norway · Girls, Elise rose about as far as Barbara fell — from #271 and #294 in 1946 to #543 and #38 in 2015.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Elise were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #543 and #38.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Elise in 38.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Elise #25 in 1995.
The order changed in 1976: Elise moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #208 and #237; by 1976 that had become #249 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Elise #38.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elise in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Elise #96 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Elise #320.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1983–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Elise in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #117 in 1983, Elise #132 in 2014.
The order changed in 2000: Elise moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #380 and #498; by 2000 that had become #465 and #324.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Elise #212.
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 Elise
Pairs where Elise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Elise
Anna and Elise were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #63.
Anna · Elise · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Elise
Anne and Elise were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #63.
Anne · Elise · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Elise
Astrid and Elise were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #63.
Astrid · Elise · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elin vs Elise
Elin and Elise were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #263 and #63.
Elin · Elise · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Barbara | Elise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Elizabeth, used across Germanic and Scandinavian languages. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission |
| Pronunciation | /eˈliː.seh/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Norway · Girls #63 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elise has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara and Elise both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elise; Barbara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Elise
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #223 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls