Carol vs Sheila
Carol and Sheilacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Carol was ranked #663 and Sheila #758 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Sheila #3192 among girls in England and Wales.
Carol and Sheila over time
Carol and Sheila appear together in 2 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Carol held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sheila in 0.
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 Sheila changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2021, ending at #3519 and #3192.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Sheila were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #758.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2010
Carol held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Sheila in 1.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Sheila #37 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Carol #663, Sheila #758.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sheila in 10.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Sheila #1502 in 2006.
The order changed in 2016: Sheila moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #4103 and #5730; by 2016 that had become #4096 and #2547.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Sheila #3192.
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
Side by side
| Field | Carol | Sheila |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2133 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3333 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carol and Sheila both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2133 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sheila
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #535 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3333 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls