Barbara vs Lillian
Barbara and Lilliancompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Lillian #309 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Lillian #341 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Barbara was ranked #856 and Lillian #364 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Barbara and Lillian over time
Barbara and Lillian appear together in 3 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Lillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 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 2 of those lists, Lillian 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Lillian were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 55 years, from 1946 to 2015, ending at #543 and #341.
List by list
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lillian in 55.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Lillian #41 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Lillian #341.
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2023
Barbara held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Lillian in 20.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Lillian #236 in 2016.
The order changed in 2000: Lillian moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #363 and #576; by 2000 that had become #465 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Barbara #856, Lillian #364.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lillian in 29.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Lillian #274 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Lillian #309.
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 | Lillian |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Norway · Girls #295 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lillian.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO.
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
Lillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #40 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: #40 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #295 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls