Charlotte vs Rachael
Charlotte and Rachaelcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Charlotte was ranked #9 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Charlotte was ranked #16 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #25 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Charlotte was ranked #26 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Charlotte was ranked #55 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Charlotte and Rachael over time
Charlotte and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Rachael held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Charlotte in 2.
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.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte moved into the top 50 at #30 in 1986 as Rachael fell out of it to #61, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Charlotte moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #65 and #55 the year before became #54 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Charlotte and Rachael changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #55 and #747.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte and Rachael averaged 30.3 places apart, ending at #26 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Charlotte and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #25 and #3705.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Charlotte held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Rachael in 29.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #39 in 2018, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Charlotte #55, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #5 in 2000, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #25, Rachael #3705.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1974–1994
Charlotte held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #19 in 1992, Rachael #25 in 1974.
The order changed in 1986: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #44 and #36; by 1986 that had become #30 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Charlotte #26, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Charlotte held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #9 in 2017, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Charlotte moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #46 and #42; by 2002 that had become #43 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Charlotte #9, Rachael #432.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1989–2001
Charlotte held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rachael in 8.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #16 in 2001, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order changed in 1998: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #65 and #55; by 1998 that had become #54 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Charlotte #16, Rachael #100.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Charlotte has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachael.
- A meaning is recorded for Charlotte; Rachael 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 Rachael 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls