Denise vs Dorothea
Denise and Dorotheacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1982, Denise was ranked #37 and Dorothea #425 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Denise was ranked #4843 and Dorothea #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Dorothea over time
Denise and Dorothea appear together in 1 published list, across 27 years of shared records. Denise held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Dorothea in 0.
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.
Denise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Dorothea 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Denise held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Dorothea in 13.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Dorothea #811 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Dorothea moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #1720 and #1809; by 2013 that had become #4739 and #1707.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denise #4843, Dorothea #811.
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
Side by side
| Field | Denise | Dorothea |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Denise and Dorothea both have 3 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
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
Dorothea
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #425 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls