Barbara vs Jennifer
Barbara and Jennifercompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #98 and Jennifer #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Jennifer #31 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Jennifer #316 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Jennifer #556 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Barbara was ranked #2440 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Jennifer over time
Barbara and Jennifer appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Barbara in 1.
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.
Barbara reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jennifer 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 1968, Jennifer moved ahead of Barbara in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #45 and #50 the year before became #47 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Jennifer changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2015, ending at #543 and #556.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #650.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jennifer in 51.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order changed in 1968: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #45 and #50; by 1968 that had become #47 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Jennifer #316.
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jennifer in 14.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1983, Jennifer #192 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Jennifer #556.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Barbara #2440, Jennifer #650.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Jennifer #1 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #98, Jennifer #7.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 17.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Jennifer #4 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Jennifer #31.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | |
| 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 #2440 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Barbara does not have one recorded yet.
- Barbara and Jennifer both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls