Elaine vs Jane
Elaine and Janecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1958, Elaine was ranked #94 and Jane #33 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1955, Elaine was ranked #94 and Jane #58 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Elaine was ranked #331 and Jane #139 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elaine was ranked #608 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elaine was ranked #1160 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Elaine and Jane over time
Elaine and Jane appear together in 2 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Elaine 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 1997, Jane moved ahead of Elaine in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #65 and #80 the year before became #71 and #62.
- Longest-running competitions
Elaine and Jane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 59 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #608 and #213.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elaine #823 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #213.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Elaine held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Jane in 26.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #6 in 1982, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order changed in 1997: Jane moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #65 and #80; by 1997 that had become #71 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #608, Jane #213.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elaine held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jane in 27.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #823 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elaine #1160, Jane #1160.
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 Elaine
Pairs where Elaine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elaine vs Alice
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #57 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #41.
Elaine · Alice · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elaine vs Orla
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #189.
Elaine · Orla · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Elaine
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #58 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #608.
Louise · Elaine · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Elaine
Karen and Elaine changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #629 and #896.
Karen · Elaine · 54 shared years, 1964–2018 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Jane
Pairs where Jane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #65 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #213.
Christine · Jane · 60 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Denise vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #56 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2020 they were #834 and #168.
Denise · Jane · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Started together, ended far apart
- Suzanne vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #67 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #734 and #162.
Suzanne · Jane · 52 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jane vs Rita
In 1964 they stood at #59 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #718.
Jane · Rita · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #3318.
Lily · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daisy vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #18 and #3318.
Daisy · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rosie vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #24 and #3318.
Rosie · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #3254.
Henry · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Robyn vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #80 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #78 and #3318.
Robyn · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #120 and #3254.
Patrick · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #3254.
Jason · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Tyler vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #67 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #213 and #3254.
Tyler · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Elaine | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elaine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Jane.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Elaine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls