Denise vs Lisa
Denise and Lisacompared 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 Lisa #2 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Denise was ranked #97 and Lisa #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Denise was ranked #419 and Lisa #174 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Denise was ranked #834 and Lisa #355 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Denise was ranked #4867 and Lisa #661 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Lisa over time
Denise and Lisa appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Denise in 0.
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.
Denise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lisa 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 1961, Lisa moved ahead of Denise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #47 and #57 the year before became #49 and #39.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Lisa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #661.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Denise #664 in 1998, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2020
Denise held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lisa in 47.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order changed in 1971: Lisa moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #32 and #54; by 1971 that had become #33 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Denise #834, Lisa #355.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Denise held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 30.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denise #4867, Lisa #661.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1962–1973
Denise held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Denise #25 in 1964, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 1966: Lisa moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #26 and #31; by 1966 that had become #34 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Denise #86, Lisa #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1959–1969
Denise held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Lisa in 9.
Highest recorded here: Denise #45 in 1959, Lisa #2 in 1968.
The order changed in 1961: Lisa moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #47 and #57; by 1961 that had become #49 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Denise #97, Lisa #3.
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 | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.sə/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Denise does not have one recorded yet.
- Denise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lisa.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #661 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls