Barbara vs Janet
Barbara and Janetcompared 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 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Janet over time
Barbara and Janet appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 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 2024, ending at #2000 and #3318.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Janet were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 39 years, from 1947 to 1991, ending at #316 and #652.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 25 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, 2024: Barbara #2000, Janet #3318.
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.
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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| 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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls