Namewise

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 2025, Danielle was ranked #1454 and Laura #303 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 162 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 England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1454 and #303.

  • 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 2025 they were #1454 and #303.

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 · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Laura in 30.

    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, 2025: Danielle #1454, Laura #303.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Danielle

Pairs where Danielle shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Laura

Pairs where Laura shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Danielle, Laura
FieldDanielleLaura
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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.
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via French transmissionLatin
Pronunciation/da.njɛl//ˈlɔɹ.ə/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #1454 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1981–2010

    Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1993 (recorded 1981–2010).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1454 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Laura

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls