Barbara vs Pauline
Barbara and Paulinecompared 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 1966, Barbara was ranked #75 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Barbara was ranked #100 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Barbara was ranked #543 and Pauline #399 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Barbara was ranked #629 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Barbara was ranked #2000 and Pauline #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Barbara and Pauline over time
Barbara and Pauline appear together in 5 published lists, across 125 years of shared records. Barbara held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Pauline in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Pauline 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, Pauline moved ahead of Barbara in New Zealand · Girls — #63 and #64 the year before became #81 and #71.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Barbara and Pauline changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2000 and #4843.
- Longest-running competitions
Barbara and Pauline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #629 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Barbara #848 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2018
Barbara held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Pauline in 20.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #43 in 1964, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order changed in 2008: Barbara moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #655 and #362; by 2008 that had become #597 and #665.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Barbara #629, Pauline #896.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Barbara held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Pauline in 2.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #848 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Barbara #2000, Pauline #4843.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1946–2015
Barbara held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Pauline in 7.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #167 in 1960, Pauline #242 in 1998.
The order changed in 1994: Pauline moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #367 and #462; by 1994 that had become #399 and #343.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Barbara #543, Pauline #399.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1971
Barbara held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Pauline in 4.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #10 in 1954, Pauline #31 in 1955.
The order changed in 1968: Pauline moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #63 and #64; by 1968 that had become #81 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Barbara #100, Pauline #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966
Barbara held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Barbara #16 in 1953, Pauline #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Barbara #75, Pauline #86.
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 | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| 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 and Pauline both have 3 syllables.
- 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
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls