Diane vs Shirley
Diane 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, Diane was ranked #32 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1961, Diane was ranked #41 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Diane was ranked #727 and Shirley #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Diane was ranked #2788 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Shirley over time
Diane and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Diane held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shirley in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Diane and Shirley changed places 15 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2788 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #727 and #856.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Diane #17 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2023
Diane held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Shirley in 20.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order changed in 1997: Diane moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #393 and #356; by 1997 that had become #394 and #440.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Diane #727, Shirley #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Diane held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Shirley in 11.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order changed in 2023: Diane moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3148 and #3148; by 2023 that had become #2504 and #3218.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Diane #2788, Shirley #4201.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Diane held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Diane #16 in 1954, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Diane #32, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Diane held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Diane #17 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Diane #41, 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 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 | 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Diane and Shirley 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 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