Diane vs Patricia
Diane and Patriciacompared 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 1970, Diane was ranked #100 and Patricia #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1973, Diane was ranked #82 and Patricia #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Diane was ranked #229 and Patricia #197 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Diane was ranked #727 and Patricia #404 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Diane was ranked #2788 and Patricia #1407 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Patricia over time
Diane and Patricia appear together in 4 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Patricia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Diane in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Patricia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Diane 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
Diane and Patricia changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1973, ending at #82 and #73.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Diane and Patricia averaged 8.6 places apart, ending at #82 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Patricia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #1407.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Patricia #443 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2023
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patricia in 49.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Patricia #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Diane #727, Patricia #404.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patricia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Patricia #443 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Diane #2788, Patricia #1407.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1973
Diane held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Patricia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Diane #16 in 1954, Patricia #7 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Diane #82, Patricia #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Patricia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Diane #17 in 1953, Patricia #8 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Diane #100, Patricia #51.
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 | Diane | Patricia |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Diane has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Patricia.
- 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Patricia
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #385 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1978
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1978).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls