Donna vs Robyn
Donna and Robyncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #736 and Robyn #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1975, Donna was ranked #32 and Robyn #80 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1974, Donna was ranked #33 and Robyn #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2004, Donna was ranked #372 and Robyn #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Robyn #78 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Robyn over time
Donna and Robyn appear together in 4 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1961, Donna moved ahead of Robyn in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #10 the year before became #6 and #14.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Donna and Robyn averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #33 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Robyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1982 to 2024, ending at #736 and #27.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1982–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Robyn in 22.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Robyn #25 in 2017.
The order changed in 1996: Robyn moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #83 and #126; by 1996 that had become #113 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #736, Robyn #27.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Robyn #64 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Robyn #78.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1953–1974
Donna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Robyn in 8.
Highest recorded here: Donna #5 in 1964, Robyn #6 in 1953.
The order changed in 1961: Donna moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #12 and #10; by 1961 that had become #6 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Donna #33, Robyn #85.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1954–1975
Donna held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Robyn in 6.
Highest recorded here: Donna #6 in 1965, Robyn #8 in 1956.
The order changed in 1960: Donna moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #15 and #9; by 1960 that had become #7 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1975: Donna #32, Robyn #80.
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 | Robyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, feminine diminutive form |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹɑb.ɪn/ | |
| 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 #19 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Robyn has a recorded origin (Germanic, feminine diminutive form); Donna does not have one recorded yet.
- Donna and Robyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Robyn; 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
Robyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #7 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 recorded1952–1974
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls