Denise vs Diane
Denise and Dianecompared 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 1973, Denise was ranked #86 and Diane #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Denise was ranked #97 and Diane #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Denise was ranked #261 and Diane #229 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Denise was ranked #834 and Diane #834 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Denise was ranked #4843 and Diane #2411 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Diane over time
Denise and Diane appear together in 4 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Denise held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Diane in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Diane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Denise 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Denise and Diane changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4843 and #2411.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Denise and Diane averaged 8.8 places apart, ending at #86 and #82.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Diane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1964 to 2020, ending at #834 and #834.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Denise #664 in 1998, Diane #983 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2020
Denise held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Diane in 4.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Diane #126 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Denise #834, Diane #834.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denise held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Diane in 12.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Diane #983 in 1997.
The order changed in 2020: Diane moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #2040 and #2458; by 2020 that had become #4535 and #3899.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denise #4843, Diane #2411.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1973
Denise held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Diane in 10.
Highest recorded here: Denise #23 in 1960, Diane #16 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Denise #86, Diane #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1969
Denise held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Diane in 17.
Highest recorded here: Denise #22 in 1953, Diane #17 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Denise #97, Diane #89.
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 Denise
Pairs where Denise shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Alice vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #57 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2020 they were #33 and #834.
Alice · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Orla vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #52 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2020 they were #160 and #834.
Orla · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Denise vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2020 they were #834 and #168.
Denise · Jane · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Denise
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #56 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2020 they were #315 and #834.
Louise · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Diane
Pairs where Diane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Diane #17 in 1953.
Christine · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Diane #17 in 1953.
Susan · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Heather vs Diane
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Heather and Diane averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #77 and #82.
Heather · Diane · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Lisa vs Diane
In 1966, Lisa moved ahead of Diane in New Zealand · Girls — #31 and #30 the year before became #7 and #32.
Lisa · Diane · 12 shared years, 1962–1973 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #59 and #60.
Daniel · Samuel · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.4 places apart, ending at #60 and #56.
Samuel · Joseph · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Denise | Diane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2411 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Denise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Diane.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Denise
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #24 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 recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Diane
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #21 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 recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls