Donna vs Shirley
Donna and Shirleycompared 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 1961, Donna was ranked #6 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Donna was ranked #8 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Donna was ranked #263 and Shirley #490 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Donna was ranked #5891 and Shirley #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Donna and Shirley over time
Donna and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Donna held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shirley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shirley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Donna in 1. 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 1959, Donna moved ahead of Shirley in New Zealand · Girls — #38 and #36 the year before became #15 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Donna and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2003, ending at #263 and #490.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2003
Donna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shirley in 14.
Highest recorded here: Donna #33 in 1982, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order changed in 1978: Donna moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #116 and #111; by 1978 that had become #77 and #113.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Donna #263, Shirley #490.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Donna held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shirley in 9.
Highest recorded here: Donna #441 in 1996, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order changed in 2022: Shirley moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #4634 and #5581; by 2022 that had become #5669 and #3148.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donna #5891, Shirley #3015.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Donna held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shirley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Donna #7 in 1960, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order changed in 1959: Donna moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #38 and #36; by 1959 that had become #15 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Donna #8, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1953–1961
Donna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shirley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Donna #6 in 1961, Shirley #62 in 1953.
The order changed in 1955: Donna moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #89 and #72; by 1955 that had become #73 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Donna #6, Shirley #100.
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 | Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #3015 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Donna and Shirley 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
Shirley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #48 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 recorded1954–1964
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls