Donna vs Leanne
Donna and Leannecompared 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 1982, Donna was ranked #79 and Leanne #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1982, Donna was ranked #78 and Leanne #66 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Donna was ranked #372 and Leanne #316 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Donna was ranked #764 and Leanne #883 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Leanne #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Leanne over time
Donna and Leanne appear together in 4 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Leanne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Donna 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.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Leanne 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1972, Leanne moved ahead of Donna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #14 and #18 the year before became #21 and #15.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Donna and Leanne averaged 12.5 places apart, ending at #79 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Leanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1973 to 2021, ending at #764 and #883.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1973–2021
Donna held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Leanne in 28.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Donna #764, Leanne #883.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leanne in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Leanne #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1957–1982
Donna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Leanne in 14.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Leanne #6 in 1968.
The order changed in 1972: Leanne moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #14 and #18; by 1972 that had become #21 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Donna #79, Leanne #50.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1961–1982
Donna held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Leanne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Donna #6 in 1965, Leanne #22 in 1965.
The order changed in 1982: Leanne moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #66 and #76; by 1982 that had become #78 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Donna #78, Leanne #66.
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 | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| 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 Leanne 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
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls