Danielle vs Grainne
Danielle and Grainnecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Danielle was ranked #218 and Grainne #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Danielle was ranked #391 and Grainne #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Danielle was ranked #1180 and Grainne #5669 among girls in England and Wales.
Danielle and Grainne over time
Danielle and Grainne appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Danielle held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Grainne 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.
Danielle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Grainne 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 2013, Grainne moved ahead of Danielle in Northern Ireland · Girls — #229 and #268 the year before became #327 and #141.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Danielle and Grainne changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2018, ending at #218 and #896.
- Longest-running competitions
Danielle and Grainne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1966 to 2018, ending at #218 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Danielle #20 in 1996, Grainne #1234 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1966–2018
Danielle held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Grainne in 29.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Grainne #37 in 1989.
The order changed in 2018: Danielle moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #272 and #233; by 2018 that had become #218 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Danielle #218, Grainne #896.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2023
Danielle held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Grainne in 5.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #24 in 1997, Grainne #60 in 1998.
The order changed in 2013: Grainne moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #229 and #268; by 2013 that had become #327 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Danielle #391, Grainne #237.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2022
Danielle held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Grainne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Grainne #1234 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Danielle #1180, Grainne #5669.
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 | Danielle | Grainne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /da.njɛl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #504 (2024) | Northern Ireland · Girls #407 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Danielle has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission); Grainne does not have one recorded yet.
- Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Grainne.
- A meaning is recorded for Danielle; Grainne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Danielle
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2010
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1993 (recorded 1981–2010).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #934 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Grainne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #62 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1989 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #407 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Girls