Charlotte vs Donna
Charlotte and Donnacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #23 and Donna #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Charlotte was ranked #36 and Donna #372 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Charlotte was ranked #58 and Donna #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #64 and Donna #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Charlotte and Donna over time
Charlotte and Donna appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Charlotte held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Donna in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Charlotte 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 1979, Charlotte moved ahead of Donna in New Zealand · Girls — #53 and #47 the year before became #52 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Charlotte and Donna were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #64 and #736.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Charlotte held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Donna in 32.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #42 in 2017, Donna #33 in 1982.
The order changed in 1997: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #119 and #113; by 1997 that had become #109 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charlotte #64, Donna #736.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Charlotte held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Donna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #5 in 2000, Donna #441 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charlotte #23, Donna #5891.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1974–1984
Charlotte held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Donna in 5.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #41 in 1983, Donna #28 in 1974.
The order changed in 1979: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #53 and #47; by 1979 that had become #52 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Charlotte #58, Donna #90.
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 | Charlotte | Donna |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Free man (feminine form of Charles). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | French, feminine of Charles | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɑɹlət/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Charlotte has a recorded origin (French, feminine of Charles); Donna does not have one recorded yet.
- Charlotte has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Donna.
- A meaning is recorded for Charlotte; Donna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Charlotte a "high" Data Confidence level and Donna a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Charlotte
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1989–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recorded 1989–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls