Diane vs Janet
Diane and Janetcompared 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 1966, Diane was ranked #32 and Janet #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Diane was ranked #49 and Janet #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Diane was ranked #241 and Janet #314 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Diane was ranked #768 and Janet #907 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Diane was ranked #2411 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Janet over time
Diane and Janet appear together in 4 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 Janet changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2411 and #3318.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 41 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Diane and Janet averaged 56.0 places apart, ending at #768 and #907.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Janet were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1964 to 2012, ending at #768 and #907.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Janet #1031 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1964–2012
Diane held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Janet in 20.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order changed in 2010: Diane moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #406 and #406; by 2010 that had become #663 and #910.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Diane #768, Janet #907.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Diane held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Janet in 17.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Diane moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2504 and #2346; by 2024 that had become #2411 and #3318.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Diane #2411, Janet #3318.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Diane held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Diane #17 in 1953, Janet #36 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Diane #49, Janet #82.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Diane held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Diane #16 in 1954, Janet #19 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Diane #32, Janet #80.
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
Other comparisons involving Janet
Pairs where Janet shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eleanor vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #142 and #896.
Eleanor · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michelle vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #114 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Michelle · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Diane | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2411 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Diane and Janet both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls