Caroline vs Elizabeth
Caroline and Elizabethcompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Caroline was ranked #84 and Elizabeth #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Caroline was ranked #85 and Elizabeth #23 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #1271 and Elizabeth #74 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Elizabeth #76 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Caroline was ranked #358 and Elizabeth #99 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Caroline was ranked #306 and Elizabeth #327 among girls in Norway.
Caroline and Elizabeth over time
Caroline and Elizabeth appear together in 6 published lists, across 218 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caroline 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.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Caroline 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 1974, Caroline moved ahead of Elizabeth in Norway · Girls — #220 and #186 the year before became #173 and #241.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caroline and Elizabeth changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #381 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Caroline and Elizabeth averaged 53.0 places apart, ending at #85 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Elizabeth were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #74.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Elizabeth #26 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #6 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #76.
List by list
Norway · Girls63 shared years, 1958–2023
Caroline held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Elizabeth in 13.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #15 in 1990, Elizabeth #154 in 1968.
The order changed in 1974: Caroline moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #220 and #186; by 1974 that had become #173 and #241.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caroline #306, Elizabeth #327.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Elizabeth in 47.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Elizabeth #5 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Elizabeth #76.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elizabeth in 30.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Elizabeth #26 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #1271, Elizabeth #74.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1957–1985
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elizabeth in 29.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Elizabeth #9 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Caroline #85, Elizabeth #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1957–1981
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elizabeth in 20.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Elizabeth #13 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Caroline #84, Elizabeth #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2015
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Elizabeth in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #112 in 1998, Elizabeth #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Caroline #358, Elizabeth #99.
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 | Caroline | Elizabeth |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #74 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Caroline does not have one recorded yet.
- Caroline and Elizabeth both have 4 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Caroline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Elizabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #341 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: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #74 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls