Deborah vs Leanne
Deborah and Leannecompared 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 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Leanne #47 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Deborah was ranked #94 and Leanne #95 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Deborah was ranked #351 and Leanne #268 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Deborah was ranked #700 and Leanne #700 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Leanne #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Leanne over time
Deborah and Leanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Leanne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Deborah in 2.
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, Leanne 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 1963, Leanne moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #12 the year before became #10 and #7.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Leanne averaged 25.3 places apart, ending at #86 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Leanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1973 to 2020, ending at #700 and #700.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1973–2020
Deborah held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Leanne in 29.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Deborah #700, Leanne #700.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Leanne in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Deborah moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #450 and #334; by 2005 that had become #374 and #380.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Leanne #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1957–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Leanne in 18.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Leanne #6 in 1968.
The order changed in 1963: Leanne moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #6 and #12; by 1963 that had become #10 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Leanne #47.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1961–1985
Deborah held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Leanne #22 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Deborah #94, Leanne #95.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2007
Deborah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leanne in 8.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Leanne #84 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Deborah #351, Leanne #268.
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 | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Leanne.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Leanne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls