Deborah vs Tanya
Deborah and Tanyacompared 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 Tanya #40 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1982, Deborah was ranked #65 and Tanya #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Deborah was ranked #372 and Tanya #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2009, Deborah was ranked #587 and Tanya #623 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #790 and Tanya #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Deborah was ranked #660 and Tanya #751 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Tanya #1894 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Tanya over time
Deborah and Tanya appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Deborah held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Tanya in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Tanya 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 1974, Tanya moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #34 and #39 the year before became #50 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Tanya changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2015, ending at #660 and #751.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Tanya averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #86 and #40.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Tanya were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2015, ending at #660 and #751.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Tanya #235 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2015
Deborah held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Tanya in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Tanya #84 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Deborah #660, Tanya #751.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Tanya in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Tanya #235 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Deborah moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #450 and #328; by 2005 that had become #374 and #393.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Tanya #1894.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1959–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Tanya in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #4 in 1959, Tanya #30 in 1970.
The order changed in 1974: Tanya moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #34 and #39; by 1974 that had become #50 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Tanya #40.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1964–1982
Deborah held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Tanya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Tanya #41 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Deborah #65, Tanya #90.
Norway · Girls12 shared years, 1972–2009
Deborah held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tanya in 9.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #443 in 1973, Tanya #327 in 1989.
The order changed in 1998: Deborah moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #627 and #550; by 1998 that had become #495 and #585.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Deborah #587, Tanya #623.
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 Deborah
Pairs where Deborah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Evelyn
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #83 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #94.
Deborah · Evelyn · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Olive
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #72 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #247.
Deborah · Olive · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Paula
Deborah and Paula changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
Deborah · Paula · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Deborah | Tanya |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Scotland · Girls #638 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Tanya does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tanya.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Tanya doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Tanya
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1959–1987
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1970 (recorded 1959–1987).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1894 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls