Barbara vs Pamela
Barbara and Pamelacompared 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 1964, Barbara was ranked #67 and Pamela #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1969, Barbara was ranked #89 and Pamela #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Barbara was ranked #734 and Pamela #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Pamela #2574 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Pamela over time
Barbara and Pamela appear together in 4 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pamela 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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, Pamela moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #63 and #66 the year before became #81 and #78.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Pamela changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2000 and #2574.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Pamela were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2017, ending at #734 and #873.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Pamela #891 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2017
Barbara held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Pamela in 21.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Pamela #30 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Barbara #734, Pamela #873.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Pamela in 4.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Pamela #891 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Pamela #2574.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1954–1969
Barbara held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Pamela in 3.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Pamela #21 in 1954.
The order changed in 1968: Pamela moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #63 and #66; by 1968 that had become #81 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Barbara #89, Pamela #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1952–1964
Barbara held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Pamela in 3.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Pamela #20 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Barbara #67, Pamela #78.
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 | Pamela |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2574 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Barbara and Pamela both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, 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
Pamela
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2574 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls