Barbara vs Janet
Barbara and Janet compared 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 1966, Barbara was ranked #66 and Janet #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Barbara was ranked #76 and Janet #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Barbara was ranked #316 and Janet #652 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Barbara was ranked #629 and Janet #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Janet #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Janet over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Barbara and Janet over time
Barbara and Janet appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Janet in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Barbara in 1. 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 1959, Barbara moved ahead of Janet in Norway · Girls — #275 and #239 the year before became #173 and #271.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Janet changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2440 and #4867.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Janet 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, Janet #1031 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1964–2018
Barbara held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Janet in 6.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Barbara #629, Janet #896.
Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1947–1991
Barbara held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Janet in 2.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Janet #239 in 1958.
The order changed in 1959: Barbara moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #275 and #239; by 1959 that had become #173 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Barbara #316, Janet #652.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Barbara held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Janet in 3.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barbara #2440, Janet #4867.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Barbara held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Janet in 2.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Janet #36 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Barbara #76, Janet #82.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Barbara held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Janet #19 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Barbara #66, Janet #80.
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 Janet
Pairs where Janet shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eleanor vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #142 and #896.
Eleanor · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michelle vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #114 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Michelle · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · 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 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- 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 | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Janet.
- 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls