Courtney vs Jennifer
Courtney and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Courtney was ranked #54 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2003, Courtney was ranked #55 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Courtney was ranked #276 and Jennifer #353 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Jennifer #316 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Courtney and Jennifer over time
Courtney and Jennifer appear together in 5 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Courtney held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jennifer 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.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Courtney 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Courtney moved into the top 50 at #24 in 1989 as Jennifer fell out of it to #54, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Jennifer moved ahead of Courtney in England and Wales · Girls — #161 and #175 the year before became #261 and #196.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Courtney and Jennifer averaged 32.5 places apart, ending at #55 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Courtney and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #650.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Courtney #17 in 1998, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2278 and #650.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Courtney held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jennifer in 14.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Jennifer moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #161 and #175; by 2012 that had become #261 and #196.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Jennifer #650.
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Jennifer #9 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Jennifer #316.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1984–2003
Courtney held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jennifer in 7.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #11 in 1996, Jennifer #19 in 1984.
The order changed in 1991: Courtney moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #34 and #33; by 1991 that had become #26 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Courtney #55, Jennifer #88.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1997–2016
Courtney held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jennifer in 1.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Courtney #276, Jennifer #353.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1985–2003
Courtney held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jennifer in 4.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #8 in 1996, Jennifer #20 in 1985.
The order changed in 1989: Courtney moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #38 and #32; by 1989 that had become #24 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Courtney #54, Jennifer #84.
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 | Courtney | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Courtney has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Courtney
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls