Carolyn vs Cheryl
Carolyn and Cherylcompared 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 1973, Carolyn was ranked #78 and Cheryl #84 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1972, Carolyn was ranked #80 and Cheryl #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Carolyn was ranked #937 and Cheryl #550 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Carolyn was ranked #3598 and Cheryl #5687 among girls in England and Wales.
Carolyn and Cheryl over time
Carolyn and Cheryl appear together in 4 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 1972, Carolyn moved ahead of Cheryl in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #79 and #74 the year before became #80 and #94.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carolyn and Cheryl changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2023, ending at #3598 and #5687.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Carolyn and Cheryl averaged 20.4 places apart, ending at #80 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Carolyn and Cheryl were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 30 years, from 1965 to 2011, ending at #937 and #550.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1965–2011
Carolyn held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Cheryl in 11.
Highest recorded here: Carolyn #178 in 1980, Cheryl #179 in 1989.
The order changed in 2011: Cheryl moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #295 and #534; by 2011 that had become #937 and #550.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Carolyn #937, Cheryl #550.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1996–2023
Carolyn held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Cheryl in 16.
Highest recorded here: Carolyn #1018 in 1999, Cheryl #671 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Carolyn moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #5493 and #5493; by 2022 that had become #4645 and #5669.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carolyn #3598, Cheryl #5687.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1952–1972
Carolyn held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Cheryl in 16.
Highest recorded here: Carolyn #32 in 1964, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
The order changed in 1972: Carolyn moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #79 and #74; by 1972 that had become #80 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Carolyn #80, Cheryl #94.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1973
Carolyn held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Cheryl in 4.
Highest recorded here: Carolyn #32 in 1960, Cheryl #51 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Carolyn #78, Cheryl #84.
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 | Carolyn | Cheryl |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3598 (2023) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carolyn has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Cheryl.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carolyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #40 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 recorded1952–1976
Highest recorded position: #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1952–1976).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #3598 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls
Cheryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #11 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 recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls