Brooke vs Laura
Brooke and Lauracompared 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 2008, Brooke was ranked #26 and Laura #71 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Brooke was ranked #83 and Laura #74 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Brooke was ranked #213 and Laura #112 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #192 and Laura #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #207 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Brooke was ranked #313 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Brooke and Laura over time
Brooke and Laura appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Brooke in 2.
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.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Brooke 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura moved into the top 50 at #44 in 2005 as Brooke fell out of it to #68, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Laura moved ahead of Brooke in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #40 and #42 the year before became #68 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brooke and Laura changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2008, ending at #83 and #74.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Brooke and Laura averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #83 and #74.
- Longest-running competitions
Brooke and Laura were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1976 to 2008, ending at #83 and #74.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1976–2008
Brooke held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Laura in 20.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #14 in 1998, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order changed in 2005: Laura moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #40 and #42; by 2005 that had become #68 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Brooke #83, Laura #74.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brooke held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Laura in 13.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #39 in 2009, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brooke #313, Laura #258.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1982–2025
Brooke held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #72 in 2010, Laura #3 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brooke #213, Laura #112.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brooke held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Laura in 11.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #36 in 2008, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Brooke moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #206 and #190; by 2022 that had become #140 and #243.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brooke #192, Laura #253.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1986–2008
Brooke held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Laura in 13.
Highest recorded here: Brooke #13 in 2001, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 1999: Brooke moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #20 and #14; by 1999 that had become #14 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Brooke #26, Laura #71.
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 | Brooke | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Brooke does not have one recorded yet.
- Brooke and Laura both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Brooke doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brooke
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #13 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls