Claire vs Lisa
Claire and Lisacompared 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 1993, Claire was ranked #85 and Lisa #48 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Claire was ranked #66 and Lisa #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Claire was ranked #199 and Lisa #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Lisa #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Lisa #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Lisa #661 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Lisa over time
Claire and Lisa appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Claire 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.
Lisa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Claire 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 1994, Claire moved ahead of Lisa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #71 and #59 the year before became #67 and #72.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Lisa changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2013, ending at #199 and #370.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Lisa averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #66 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Lisa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #661.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Lisa in 31.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Lisa #443.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lisa in 25.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Lisa moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #838 and #881; by 2020 that had become #1127 and #872.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Lisa #661.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1964–1993
Claire held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Claire #23 in 1980, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Claire #85, Lisa #48.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1976–1997
Claire held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 18.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 1990, Lisa #5 in 1978.
The order changed in 1994: Claire moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #71 and #59; by 1994 that had become #67 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Claire #66, Lisa #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2013
Claire held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lisa in 3.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Lisa #63 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Claire #199, Lisa #370.
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 | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /ˈliː.sə/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Lisa is recorded with a Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth origin.
- Claire and Lisa both have 2 syllables.
- Claire's recorded meaning differs from Lisa's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Lisa 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #661 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls