Carol vs Janet
Carol and Janetcompared 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 1966, Carol was ranked #46 and Janet #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Carol was ranked #55 and Janet #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Carol was ranked #314 and Janet #314 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Carol was ranked #663 and Janet #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Janet #4634 among girls in England and Wales.
Carol and Janet over time
Carol and Janet appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Carol held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Janet 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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Carol 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 1955, Carol moved ahead of Janet in New Zealand · Girls — #22 and #19 the year before became #20 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carol and Janet changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2021, ending at #3519 and #4634.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Janet were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #910.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carol #802 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1964–2010
Carol held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Janet in 1.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Carol #663, Janet #910.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Janet in 18.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Janet #4634.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Carol held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Carol #26 in 1952, Janet #36 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Carol #55, Janet #82.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Carol held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Janet in 1.
Highest recorded here: Carol #19 in 1957, Janet #19 in 1954.
The order changed in 1955: Carol moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #22 and #19; by 1955 that had become #20 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Carol #46, Janet #80.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Carol
Pairs where Carol shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2010 they were #5 and #663.
Sarah · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2010 they were #13 and #663.
Anna · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carol vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #36 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2010 they were #663 and #35.
Carol · Julia · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellen vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2010 they were #47 and #663.
Ellen · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Janet
Pairs where Janet shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eleanor vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #142 and #896.
Eleanor · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michelle vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #114 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Michelle · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Leo vs Oscar
Leo and Oscar both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Leo · Oscar · 57 shared years, 1951–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #3318.
Lily · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daisy vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #18 and #3318.
Daisy · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rosie vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #24 and #3318.
Rosie · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #3254.
Henry · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Carol | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3523 (2023) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carol and Janet 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
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls