Elaine vs Louise
Elaine and Louisecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Elaine was ranked #331 and Louise #57 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1955, Elaine was ranked #94 and Louise #59 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1958, Elaine was ranked #94 and Louise #79 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elaine was ranked #608 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elaine was ranked #1133 and Louise #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Elaine and Louise over time
Elaine and Louise appear together in 2 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elaine in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Louise 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elaine and Louise changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #608 and #213.
- Longest-running competitions
Elaine and Louise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1133 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elaine #823 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #54 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 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 14 of those years, Louise in 44.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #6 in 1982, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #608, Louise #213.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elaine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Louise in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #823 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #1133, Louise #816.
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 | Elaine | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Elaine does not have one recorded yet.
- Elaine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Louise.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; Elaine 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
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 #1133 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls