Diane vs Philippa
Diane and Philippacompared 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 1973, Diane was ranked #82 and Philippa #72 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Diane was ranked #2411 and Philippa #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Diane was ranked #727 and Philippa #727 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Diane and Philippa over time
Diane and Philippa appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Diane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Philippa in 1.
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.
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.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1973, Philippa moved ahead of Diane in New Zealand · Girls — #85 and #92 the year before became #82 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Philippa were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1968 to 2023, ending at #727 and #727.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Philippa #150 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1968–2023
Diane held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Philippa in 5.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Philippa #298 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Diane #727, Philippa #727.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Philippa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Philippa #150 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Diane #2411, Philippa #377.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1956–1973
Diane held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Philippa in 1.
Highest recorded here: Diane #19 in 1958, Philippa #72 in 1973.
The order changed in 1973: Philippa moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #85 and #92; by 1973 that had become #82 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Diane #82, Philippa #72.
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 | Philippa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2411 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (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 Philippa.
- Both names have recorded usage in 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
Philippa
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–1986
Highest recorded position: #69 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1956–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls