Denise vs Joanne
Denise and Joannecompared 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 1969, Denise was ranked #97 and Joanne #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1973, Denise was ranked #86 and Joanne #7 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Denise was ranked #426 and Joanne #312 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Denise was ranked #834 and Joanne #628 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Denise was ranked #4867 and Joanne #1719 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Joanne over time
Denise and Joanne appear together in 4 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Joanne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Denise 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1957, Joanne moved ahead of Denise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #46 the year before became #36 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Denise and Joanne changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #834 and #628.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Denise and Joanne averaged 32.5 places apart, ending at #86 and #7.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Joanne rose about as far as Denise fell — from #35 and #80 in 1954 to #86 and #7 in 1973.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Joanne were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #1719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Denise #664 in 1998, Joanne #168 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2020
Denise held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joanne in 22.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Joanne #29 in 1979.
The order changed in 2013: Joanne moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #612 and #907; by 2013 that had become #894 and #747.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Denise #834, Joanne #628.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Denise held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Joanne in 30.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Joanne #168 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denise #4867, Joanne #1719.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1973
Denise held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Joanne in 16.
Highest recorded here: Denise #23 in 1960, Joanne #4 in 1969.
The order changed in 1958: Joanne moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #32 and #35; by 1958 that had become #28 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Denise #86, Joanne #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1969
Denise held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Joanne in 13.
Highest recorded here: Denise #22 in 1953, Joanne #6 in 1969.
The order changed in 1957: Joanne moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #31 and #46; by 1957 that had become #36 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Denise #97, Joanne #6.
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 | Denise | Joanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant of Joan/Johanne, ultimately from the same Hebrew-via-Greek-via-Old-French tradition as John (Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') — sometimes also read as a blend of Jo and Anne. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒoʊ.ˈæn/ | |
| 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 #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1719 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joanne has a recorded origin (English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes); Denise does not have one recorded yet.
- Denise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Joanne.
- A meaning is recorded for Joanne; Denise 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
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Joanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 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 recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls