Carol vs Frances
Carol and Francescompared 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 1965, Carol was ranked #37 and Frances #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Carol was ranked #55 and Frances #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Carol was ranked #351 and Frances #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Frances #438 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Carol was ranked #505 and Frances #842 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Carol and Frances over time
Carol and Frances appear together in 4 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Carol held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Frances in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Frances reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Carol 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carol and Frances changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2007, ending at #505 and #842.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Frances were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1964 to 2007, ending at #505 and #842.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carol #802 in 1996, Frances #161 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #36 and #38 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2007 they were #505 and #842.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1964–2007
Carol held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Frances in 2.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Frances #38 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Carol #505, Frances #842.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Frances in 24.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Frances #161 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Frances #438.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Carol held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Carol #26 in 1952, Frances #62 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Carol #55, Frances #98.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1965
Carol held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Frances in 0.
Highest recorded here: Carol #19 in 1957, Frances #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Carol #37, Frances #100.
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 | Carol | Frances |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3523 (2023) | England and Wales · Girls #425 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carol and Frances both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carol
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 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 recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #3523 among boys in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Boys
Frances
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #64 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #425 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls