Namewise

Danielle vs Madeleine

Danielle and Madeleinecompared 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 2008, Danielle was ranked #63 and Madeleine #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2002, Danielle was ranked #76 and Madeleine #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Danielle was ranked #1454 and Madeleine #259 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Danielle was ranked #790 and Madeleine #295 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Danielle was ranked #424 and Madeleine #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Danielle was ranked #504 and Madeleine #556 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Danielle and Madeleine over time

Danielle and Madeleine appear together in 5 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Danielle held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Madeleine 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 4 of those lists, Madeleine 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2002, Madeleine moved ahead of Danielle in England and Wales · Girls — #73 and #89 the year before became #83 and #72.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Danielle and Madeleine changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2024, ending at #504 and #556.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Danielle and Madeleine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1454 and #259.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 19662024

    Danielle held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Madeleine in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Madeleine #288 in 1966.

    The order changed in 2023: Danielle moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #559 and #502; by 2023 that had become #404 and #445.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #504, Madeleine #556.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 19962025

    Danielle held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Madeleine in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Madeleine #64 in 2005.

    The order changed in 2002: Madeleine moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #73 and #89; by 2002 that had become #83 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Danielle #1454, Madeleine #259.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 19992019

    Danielle held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Madeleine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Danielle #42 in 1999, Madeleine #202 in 2003.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Danielle #424, Madeleine #424.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 19902002

    Danielle held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Madeleine in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Danielle #19 in 1992, Madeleine #35 in 1995.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2002: Danielle #76, Madeleine #73.

  • New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 19932008

    Danielle held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Madeleine in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Danielle #8 in 1993, Madeleine #69 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2008: Danielle #63, Madeleine #100.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Danielle, Madeleine
FieldDanielleMadeleine
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'.Not yet recorded
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/da.njɛl/
Syllables34
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)England and Wales · Girls #259 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Danielle has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission); Madeleine does not have one recorded yet.
  • Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Madeleine.
  • A meaning is recorded for Danielle; Madeleine doesn't have one written yet.
  • 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

Madeleine

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #327 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

  2. Highest recorded1990–2018

    Highest recorded position: #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1995 (recorded 1990–2018).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #259 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls