Diane vs Hilary
Diane and Hilarycompared 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 2010, Diane was ranked #663 and Hilary #663 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Diane was ranked #2788 and Hilary #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Hilary over time
Diane and Hilary appear together in 2 published lists, across 67 years of shared records. Diane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hilary 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.
Hilary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Diane 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.
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
Diane and Hilary changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2788 and #3705.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Hilary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #663.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Hilary #916 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1964–2010
Diane held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Hilary in 14.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Hilary #106 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Diane #663, Hilary #663.
England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 1996–2025
Diane held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Hilary in 6.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Hilary #916 in 1996.
The order changed in 2015: Diane moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #2649 and #2649; by 2015 that had become #2496 and #3615.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Diane #2788, Hilary #3705.
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 Diane
Pairs where Diane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Diane #17 in 1953.
Christine · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Diane #17 in 1953.
Susan · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Heather vs Diane
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Heather and Diane averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #77 and #82.
Heather · Diane · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Lisa vs Diane
In 1966, Lisa moved ahead of Diane in New Zealand · Girls — #31 and #30 the year before became #7 and #32.
Lisa · Diane · 12 shared years, 1962–1973 · One moved ahead of the other
Side by side
| Field | Diane | Hilary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 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 #2788 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Diane has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Hilary.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Diane
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #21 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 recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Hilary
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #129 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2010
Highest recorded position: #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2010).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls