Caroline vs Pauline
Caroline and Paulinecompared 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 1971, Caroline was ranked #68 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1966, Caroline was ranked #88 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Caroline was ranked #306 and Pauline #395 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Caroline was ranked #361 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #1271 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Caroline and Pauline over time
Caroline and Pauline appear together in 4 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Caroline held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Pauline 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1968, Caroline moved ahead of Pauline in New Zealand · Girls — #81 and #64 the year before became #70 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Pauline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1958 to 2023, ending at #306 and #395.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2018 they were #361 and #896.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Caroline held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Caroline #361, Pauline #896.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1958–2023
Caroline held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #15 in 1990, Pauline #242 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caroline #306, Pauline #395.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #1271, Pauline #4201.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1957–1971
Caroline held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Pauline in 11.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #60 in 1964, Pauline #33 in 1957.
The order changed in 1968: Caroline moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #81 and #64; by 1968 that had become #70 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Caroline #68, Pauline #86.
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 | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caroline has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls