Donna vs Lorraine
Donna and Lorrainecompared 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 1966, Donna was ranked #5 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Donna was ranked #6 and Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Donna was ranked #351 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Donna was ranked #894 and Lorraine #894 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Lorraine #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Lorraine over time
Donna and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Donna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lorraine in 1.
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.
Lorraine 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1958, Donna moved ahead of Lorraine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #56 and #38 the year before became #48 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Lorraine changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #5891 and #2115.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1964 to 2013, ending at #894 and #894.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2013
Donna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Lorraine in 37.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Lorraine #14 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Donna #894, Lorraine #894.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lorraine in 8.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Lorraine moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #4063 and #4763; by 2018 that had become #3518 and #3178.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Lorraine #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1953–1966
Donna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lorraine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Lorraine #29 in 1953.
The order changed in 1958: Donna moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #56 and #38; by 1958 that had become #48 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Donna #5, Lorraine #82.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Donna held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lorraine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Donna #6 in 1965, Lorraine #26 in 1954.
The order changed in 1958: Donna moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #43 and #38; by 1958 that had become #38 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Donna #6, Lorraine #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 | Lorraine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Donna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
- 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
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls