Claire vs Leanne
Claire and Leannecompared 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 1985, Claire was ranked #33 and Leanne #95 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Claire was ranked #57 and Leanne #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Claire was ranked #270 and Leanne #883 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Claire was ranked #283 and Leanne #366 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Leanne #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Leanne over time
Claire and Leanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leanne 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.
Leanne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Claire 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, Claire moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1977 as Leanne fell out of it to #52, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Claire moved ahead of Leanne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #62 and #58 the year before became #54 and #69.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Leanne were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #2006.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #90 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #2006.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2021
Claire held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Leanne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Claire #270, Leanne #883.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Leanne in 14.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Claire moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #817 and #749; by 2012 that had become #825 and #887.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Leanne #2006.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1964–1985
Claire held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leanne in 12.
Highest recorded here: Claire #23 in 1980, Leanne #22 in 1966.
The order changed in 1977: Claire moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #57 and #50; by 1977 that had become #46 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Claire #33, Leanne #95.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Claire held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Leanne #84 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Claire #283, Leanne #366.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1976–1986
Claire held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Leanne in 8.
Highest recorded here: Claire #54 in 1984, Leanne #29 in 1976.
The order changed in 1984: Claire moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #62 and #58; by 1984 that had become #54 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Claire #57, Leanne #95.
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 | Claire | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire and Leanne both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Leanne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Leanne a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls