Claire vs Phoebe
Claire and Phoebecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Phoebe #14 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2022, Claire was ranked #86 and Phoebe #72 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Claire was ranked #96 and Phoebe #78 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Claire and Phoebe over time
Claire and Phoebe appear together in 4 published lists, across 117 years of shared records. Phoebe held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Claire in 1.
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.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Phoebe 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Phoebe moved ahead of Claire in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #56 and #58 the year before became #61 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Phoebe changed places 9 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1998 and 2022, ending at #86 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Phoebe averaged 12.6 places apart, ending at #86 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Phoebe were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #14.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Phoebe in 12.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1985, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order changed in 2014: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #170 and #197; by 2014 that had become #197 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Phoebe in 30.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Phoebe #14 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Phoebe #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2022
Claire held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Phoebe in 15.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 2007, Phoebe #39 in 2004.
The order changed in 2016: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #56 and #58; by 2016 that had become #61 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Claire #86, Phoebe #72.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Phoebe in 13.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Phoebe #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2006: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #138 and #169; by 2006 that had become #121 and #121.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Phoebe #30.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #14 (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); Phoebe does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire and Phoebe both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Phoebe doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Phoebe 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
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #14 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls