Donna vs Nicole
Donna and Nicolecompared 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 Nicole #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Donna was ranked #90 and Nicole #33 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Donna was ranked #372 and Nicole #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #736 and Nicole #191 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Nicole #328 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Nicole over time
Donna and Nicole appear together in 4 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Donna 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.
Donna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nicole 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 1969, Nicole moved ahead of Donna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #7 and #13 the year before became #13 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donna and Nicole changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1969 and 1984, ending at #90 and #33.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Nicole were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2024, ending at #736 and #191.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Donna #441 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Nicole in 28.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Nicole #15 in 1996.
The order changed in 1990: Nicole moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #49 and #77; by 1990 that had become #63 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #736, Nicole #191.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicole in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Nicole #328.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1964–1982
Donna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Nicole in 14.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Nicole #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1969: Nicole moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #7 and #13; by 1969 that had become #13 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Donna #79, Nicole #5.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1969–1984
Donna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nicole in 6.
Highest recorded here: Donna #12 in 1969, Nicole #33 in 1977.
The order changed in 1982: Nicole moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #66 and #67; by 1982 that had become #78 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Donna #90, Nicole #33.
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 | Nicole |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicole has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Donna does not have one recorded yet.
- Donna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicole.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicole; Donna doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #448 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls