Charlotte vs Jennifer
Charlotte and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Charlotte was ranked #9 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #10 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Charlotte was ranked #12 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Charlotte was ranked #13 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #25 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #43 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Charlotte was ranked #160 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
Charlotte and Jennifer over time
Charlotte and Jennifer appear together in 6 published lists, across 212 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Charlotte in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte moved into the top 50 at #25 in 1989 as Jennifer fell out of it to #54, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Charlotte moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #65 and #60 the year before became #54 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte and Jennifer averaged 39.7 places apart, ending at #9 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte rose about as far as Jennifer fell — from #91 and #35 in 1974 to #9 and #84 in 2003.
- Longest-running competitions
Charlotte and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #25 and #650.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jennifer in 42.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #39 in 2018, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order changed in 2006: Charlotte moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #67 and #63; by 2006 that had become #70 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #43, Jennifer #413.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2020
Charlotte held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Jennifer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #12 in 1990, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order changed in 1956: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #345 and #331; by 1956 that had become #432 and #444.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Charlotte #160, Jennifer #493.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #5 in 2000, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #25, Jennifer #650.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1974–2003
Charlotte held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jennifer in 15.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #9 in 2003, Jennifer #15 in 1981.
The order changed in 1989: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #42 and #32; by 1989 that had become #25 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Charlotte #9, Jennifer #84.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Charlotte held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Jennifer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #13 in 2016, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #55; by 1998 that had become #44 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Charlotte #13, Jennifer #354.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1989–2003
Charlotte held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jennifer in 8.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #12 in 2003, Jennifer #31 in 1989.
The order changed in 1998: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #65 and #60; by 1998 that had become #54 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Charlotte #12, Jennifer #88.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Free man (feminine form of Charles). | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | French, feminine of Charles | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɑɹlət/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Charlotte is recorded with a French, feminine of Charles origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Charlotte and Jennifer both have 3 syllables.
- Charlotte's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Charlotte a "high" Data Confidence level and Jennifer 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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls