Cheryl vs Pauline
Cheryl 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1966, Cheryl was ranked #40 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Cheryl was ranked #55 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Cheryl was ranked #550 and Pauline #695 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Cheryl was ranked #4201 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Cheryl and Pauline over time
Cheryl and Pauline appear together in 4 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
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 1970, Cheryl moved ahead of Pauline in New Zealand · Girls — #77 and #70 the year before became #51 and #98.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cheryl and Pauline changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4201 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Cheryl and Pauline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1965 to 2011, ending at #550 and #695.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Cheryl #671 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1965–2011
Cheryl held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Pauline in 28.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #179 in 1989, Pauline #24 in 1965.
The order changed in 2011: Cheryl moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #677 and #414; by 2011 that had become #550 and #695.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Cheryl #550, Pauline #695.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2025
Cheryl held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Pauline in 6.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #671 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cheryl #4201, Pauline #4201.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966
Cheryl held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #11 in 1952, Pauline #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Cheryl #40, Pauline #86.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1954–1971
Cheryl held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Pauline in 13.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #51 in 1970, Pauline #31 in 1955.
The order changed in 1970: Cheryl moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #77 and #70; by 1970 that had become #51 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Cheryl #55, 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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Cheryl
Pairs where Cheryl shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Cheryl
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
Christine · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Cheryl
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Cheryl #11 in 1952.
Susan · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Peaked in the same years
- Kerry vs Cheryl
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kerry and Cheryl averaged 5.1 places apart, ending at #79 and #94.
Kerry · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Anne vs Cheryl
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Cheryl averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #75 and #94.
Anne · Cheryl · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
Other comparisons involving Pauline
Pairs where Pauline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elizabeth vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #91 and #896.
Elizabeth · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #2 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2018 they were #124 and #896.
Catherine · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Margaret vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2018 they were #150 and #896.
Margaret · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2018 they were #188 and #896.
Bridget · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Cheryl | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cheryl has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 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