Donna vs Hayley
Donna and Hayleycompared 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 1984, Donna was ranked #90 and Hayley #22 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Donna was ranked #79 and Hayley #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #736 and Hayley #121 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Donna was ranked #372 and Hayley #238 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Hayley #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Hayley over time
Donna and Hayley appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 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.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Hayley 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Hayley moved into the top 50 at #26 in 1979 as Donna fell out of it to #63, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Hayley moved ahead of Donna in New Zealand · Girls — #47 and #52 the year before became #63 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Hayley changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2024, ending at #736 and #121.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Hayley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1968 to 2024, ending at #736 and #121.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1968–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Hayley in 20.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Hayley #48 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Hayley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #217 and #225; by 2002 that had become #331 and #218.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #736, Hayley #121.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Hayley in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Hayley #57 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Hayley #503.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1973–1984
Donna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Hayley in 6.
Highest recorded here: Donna #26 in 1973, Hayley #17 in 1982.
The order changed in 1979: Hayley moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #47 and #52; by 1979 that had become #63 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Donna #90, Hayley #22.
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 | Donna | Hayley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (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 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Donna and Hayley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Donna
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–1982
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1964 (recorded 1953–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls