Danielle vs Laura
Danielle and Lauracompared 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 2002, Danielle was ranked #76 and Laura #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Danielle was ranked #63 and Laura #71 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #504 and Laura #105 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Danielle was ranked #391 and Laura #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #934 and Laura #258 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #790 and Laura #351 among girls in Scotland.
Danielle and Laura over time
Danielle and Laura appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Danielle in 0.
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, Laura 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Danielle moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2004 as Laura fell out of it to #53, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1989, Laura moved ahead of Danielle in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #11 and #12 the year before became #16 and #13.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Danielle and Laura changed places 9 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1981 and 2008, ending at #63 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Danielle and Laura averaged 26.6 places apart, ending at #76 and #32.
- Longest-running competitions
Danielle and Laura were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1966 to 2024, ending at #504 and #105.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Danielle #20 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #17 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #934 and #258.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 57.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Laura #2 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #504, Laura #105.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 29.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Laura #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #934, Laura #258.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1976–2002
Danielle held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Laura in 18.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #11 in 1987, Laura #9 in 1994.
The order changed in 1989: Laura moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #11 and #12; by 1989 that had become #16 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Danielle #76, Laura #32.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1981–2008
Danielle held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Laura in 17.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #8 in 1993, Laura #8 in 1995.
The order changed in 2004: Danielle moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #40 and #32; by 2004 that had become #36 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Danielle #63, Laura #71.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2023
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 21.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #24 in 1997, Laura #13 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Danielle #391, Laura #237.
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 | Laura |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'. | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /da.njɛl/ | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #504 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Danielle is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Laura is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Laura.
- Danielle's recorded meaning differs from Laura's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls