Deborah vs Evelyn
Deborah and Evelyncompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Evelyn #20 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #608 and Evelyn #94 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #790 and Evelyn #120 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #429 and Evelyn #153 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Deborah was ranked #451 and Evelyn #330 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Deborah and Evelyn over time
Deborah and Evelyn appear together in 3 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Evelyn held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Deborah 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.
Deborah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Evelyn 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 2003, Evelyn moved ahead of Deborah in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #162 and #312 the year before became #233 and #162.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Evelyn changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 2025, ending at #429 and #153.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Evelyn rose about as far as Deborah fell — from #302 and #402 in 1996 to #708 and #20 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Evelyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #94.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #368 in 1957, Evelyn #125 in 1958.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Evelyn in 23.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Evelyn #76 in 2022.
The order changed in 2003: Evelyn moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #162 and #312; by 2003 that had become #233 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #608, Evelyn #94.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Evelyn in 27.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Evelyn #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 1998: Evelyn moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #338 and #404; by 1998 that had become #386 and #380.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Evelyn #20.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1953–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Evelyn in 26.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Evelyn #125 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #429, Evelyn #153.
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 | Deborah | Evelyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | From an English surname derived from the given name Aveline. Originally more common for boys in the 17th century, now used almost entirely as a feminine name. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | English (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | /ˈɛv.ə.lɪn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Evelyn is recorded with a English (surname origin) origin.
- Deborah and Evelyn both have 3 syllables.
- Deborah's recorded meaning differs from Evelyn's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Evelyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #121 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2011–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2011–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls