Deborah vs Tracey
Deborah and Traceycompared 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 1985, Deborah was ranked #94 and Tracey #41 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Tracey #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Deborah was ranked #187 and Tracey #351 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Deborah was ranked #299 and Tracey #893 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Deborah was ranked #657 and Tracey #5687 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Tracey over time
Deborah and Tracey appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 2 of those lists, Tracey 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 1967, Tracey moved ahead of Deborah in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #14 and #17 the year before became #17 and #13.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Tracey changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2009, ending at #299 and #893.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Tracey averaged 18.6 places apart, ending at #86 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Tracey were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2009, ending at #299 and #893.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2009
Deborah held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Tracey in 4.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Tracey #61 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Deborah #299, Tracey #893.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1960–1985
Deborah held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Tracey in 15.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Tracey #7 in 1970.
The order changed in 1970: Tracey moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #8 and #9; by 1970 that had become #10 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Deborah #94, Tracey #41.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1958–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Tracey in 15.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1958, Tracey #11 in 1970.
The order changed in 1967: Tracey moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #14 and #17; by 1967 that had become #17 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Tracey #53.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1996–2023
Deborah held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tracey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Tracey #783 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Deborah #657, Tracey #5687.
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 | Tracey |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 #5687 (2023) |
| 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); Tracey does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tracey.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Tracey 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
Tracey
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #52 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1960–1991
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1960–1991).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #5687 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls