Donna vs Lesley
Donna and Lesleycompared 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 1967, Donna was ranked #5 and Lesley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1967, Donna was ranked #13 and Lesley #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Donna was ranked #259 and Lesley #259 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2002, Donna was ranked #331 and Lesley #512 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Lesley #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Lesley over time
Donna and Lesley appear together in 4 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Donna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lesley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lesley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Donna 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, Donna moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1957 as Lesley fell out of it to #60, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1958, Donna moved ahead of Lesley in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #56 and #54 the year before became #48 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Lesley changed places 13 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #5891 and #3695.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Lesley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2002, ending at #331 and #512.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Lesley #671 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2002
Donna held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Lesley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Lesley #133 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Donna #331, Lesley #512.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Lesley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Lesley #671 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Lesley moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #3518 and #5666; by 2024 that had become #5891 and #3695.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Lesley #3695.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1953–1967
Donna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lesley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Lesley #38 in 1953.
The order changed in 1958: Donna moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #56 and #54; by 1958 that had become #48 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Donna #5, Lesley #100.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1967
Donna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lesley in 3.
Highest recorded here: Donna #7 in 1960, Lesley #37 in 1954.
The order changed in 1957: Donna moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #64 and #42; by 1957 that had become #43 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Donna #13, Lesley #89.
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 | Lesley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (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 Lesley 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
Lesley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 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 recorded1952–1967
Highest recorded position: #34 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1967).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls