Carol vs Lorraine
Carol and Lorrainecompared 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 Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1966, Carol was ranked #61 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Carol was ranked #351 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Carol was ranked #663 and Lorraine #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Lorraine #4634 among girls in England and Wales.
Carol and Lorraine over time
Carol and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carol and Lorraine changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2021, ending at #3519 and #4634.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 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, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2010
Carol held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lorraine in 38.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Lorraine #14 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Carol #663, Lorraine #910.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lorraine in 19.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Carol moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #5591 and #4001; by 2021 that had become #3519 and #4634.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Lorraine #4634.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1966
Carol held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lorraine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Carol #26 in 1952, Lorraine #27 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Carol #61, Lorraine #82.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Carol held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Carol #19 in 1957, Lorraine #26 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Carol #37, Lorraine #89.
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 Lorraine
Pairs where Lorraine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lorraine vs Alice
In 1964 they stood at #47 and #57 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #33.
Lorraine · Alice · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lorraine vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #47 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #46.
Lorraine · Julia · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lorraine vs Orla
In 1964 they stood at #47 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #169.
Lorraine · Orla · 50 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 | Lorraine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3523 (2023) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carol has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
- 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
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls