Dorothy vs Geraldine
Dorothy and Geraldinecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dorothy was ranked #193 and Geraldine #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Dorothy was ranked #734 and Geraldine #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Dorothy and Geraldine over time
Dorothy and Geraldine appear together in 2 published lists, across 64 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dorothy and Geraldine changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #193 and #5891.
- Longest-running competitions
Dorothy and Geraldine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #734 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Dorothy #95 in 1964, Geraldine #7 in 1965.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2018
Dorothy held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Geraldine in 34.
Highest recorded here: Dorothy #95 in 1964, Geraldine #7 in 1965.
The order changed in 2018: Dorothy moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #868 and #750; by 2018 that had become #734 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Dorothy #734, Geraldine #896.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Dorothy held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Geraldine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Dorothy #175 in 2020, Geraldine #848 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Dorothy moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #1238 and #1170; by 2002 that had become #1104 and #2301.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dorothy #193, Geraldine #5891.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Geraldine
Pairs where Geraldine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elizabeth vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #89 and #883.
Elizabeth · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #2 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2021 they were #190 and #883.
Catherine · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Margaret vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2021 they were #190 and #883.
Margaret · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2021 they were #228 and #883.
Bridget · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Dorothy | Geraldine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dorothy has 3 syllables, compared with 4 for Geraldine.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Dorothy
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #79 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 recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #75 among girls in New Zealand, in 1956 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Geraldine
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls