Claire vs Rachael
Claire 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Claire was ranked #65 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1993, Claire was ranked #85 and Rachael #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Claire was ranked #357 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Claire was ranked #432 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #1362 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Rachael over time
Claire and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachael 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.
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 1998, Claire moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #66 and #55 the year before became #52 and #65.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Rachael changed places 11 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2001, ending at #65 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Rachael averaged 13.9 places apart, ending at #65 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Claire held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Claire #357, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rachael in 16.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Claire moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #817 and #692; by 2012 that had become #825 and #844.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #1362, Rachael #3705.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Claire held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 1990, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order changed in 1998: Claire moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #66 and #55; by 1998 that had become #52 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Claire #65, Rachael #100.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1969–1993
Claire held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Claire #23 in 1980, Rachael #25 in 1971.
The order changed in 1992: Claire moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #77 and #46; by 1992 that had become #76 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Claire #85, Rachael #90.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Claire held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Rachael in 13.
Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Claire #432, Rachael #432.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #3705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; 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 Claire 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
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
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