Denise vs Marilyn
Denise and Marilyncompared 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 1956, Denise was ranked #31 and Marilyn #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1957, Denise was ranked #32 and Marilyn #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Denise was ranked #426 and Marilyn #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Denise was ranked #734 and Marilyn #629 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Denise was ranked #4843 and Marilyn #1541 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Marilyn over time
Denise and Marilyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Denise held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marilyn in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Denise held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Marilyn in 10.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Marilyn #1541 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Marilyn moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #1720 and #2521; by 2013 that had become #4739 and #1707.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denise #4843, Marilyn #1541.
Republic of Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1969–2018
Denise held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Marilyn in 1.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Marilyn #326 in 1971.
The order changed in 2018: Marilyn moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #734 and #873; by 2018 that had become #734 and #629.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Denise #734, Marilyn #629.
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 | Marilyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #1541 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Denise and Marilyn both have 3 syllables.
- 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
Marilyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #28 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 recorded1952–1956
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1956).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1541 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls