Denise vs Shirley
Denise and Shirleycompared 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 1964, Denise was ranked #25 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1961, Denise was ranked #49 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Denise was ranked #333 and Shirley #490 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Denise was ranked #4867 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Shirley over time
Denise and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Denise held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shirley 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.
Shirley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Shirley changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2003, ending at #333 and #490.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Denise #22 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2003
Denise held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1981, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Denise #333, Shirley #490.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Denise held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shirley in 7.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order changed in 2020: Shirley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #2040 and #5591; by 2020 that had become #4535 and #2843.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denise #4867, Shirley #4201.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Denise held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shirley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Denise #23 in 1960, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Denise #25, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Denise held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Denise #22 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Denise #49, Shirley #100.
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| 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 has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shirley.
- 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
Shirley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #48 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 recorded1954–1964
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls