Claire vs Vanessa
Claire and Vanessacompared 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 Vanessa #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1993, Claire was ranked #85 and Vanessa #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Claire was ranked #328 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Claire and Vanessa over time
Claire and Vanessa appear together in 5 published lists, across 157 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Claire in 2.
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 1996, Claire moved ahead of Vanessa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #71 and #66 the year before became #67 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Claire and Vanessa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2001, ending at #65 and #93.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Claire and Vanessa averaged 21.9 places apart, ending at #65 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Vanessa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #352 and #413.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Vanessa in 10.
Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Vanessa #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Vanessa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #369 and #403; by 2005 that had become #483 and #369.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Vanessa #533.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1967–1993
Claire held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Vanessa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Claire #23 in 1980, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Claire #85, Vanessa #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Claire held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Vanessa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 1990, Vanessa #25 in 1977.
The order changed in 1996: Claire moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #71 and #66; by 1996 that had become #67 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Claire #65, Vanessa #93.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2023
Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Vanessa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Claire #28 in 1997, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Claire #328, Vanessa #391.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 #187 (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); Vanessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Claire has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- A meaning is recorded for Claire; Vanessa 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 Vanessa 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 #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls