Eleanor vs Thea
Eleanor and Theacompared 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 2023, Eleanor was ranked #34 and Thea #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Eleanor was ranked #52 and Thea #70 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Eleanor was ranked #113 and Thea #65 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Eleanor was ranked #67 and Thea #66 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Eleanor was ranked #150 and Thea #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Eleanor was ranked #106 and Thea #207 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Eleanor and Thea over time
Eleanor and Thea appear together in 4 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 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Thea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Eleanor 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 2013, Thea moved ahead of Eleanor in Northern Ireland · Girls — #203 and #451 the year before became #255 and #178.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eleanor and Thea changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #67 and #66.
- Longest-running competitions
Eleanor and Thea were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1993 to 2025, ending at #106 and #207.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Eleanor #139 in 2021, Thea #40 in 2019.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1993–2025
Eleanor held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Thea in 1.
Highest recorded here: Eleanor #106 in 2025, Thea #136 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eleanor #106, Thea #207.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Eleanor held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Thea in 4.
Highest recorded here: Eleanor #18 in 1999, Thea #46 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eleanor #67, Thea #66.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2024
Eleanor held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Thea in 13.
Highest recorded here: Eleanor #139 in 2021, Thea #40 in 2019.
The order changed in 2013: Thea moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #203 and #451; by 2013 that had become #255 and #178.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eleanor #150, Thea #75.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2015–2023
Eleanor held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Thea in 7.
Highest recorded here: Eleanor #50 in 2022, Thea #31 in 2019.
The order changed in 2022: Eleanor moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #69 and #48; by 2022 that had become #50 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Eleanor #52, Thea #70.
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 | Eleanor | Thea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Dorothea, Theodora, Theresa and other similar-sounding Greek-rooted names. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈteː.a/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #31 (2025) | Norway · Girls #50 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Thea has a recorded origin (Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission)); Eleanor does not have one recorded yet.
- Eleanor has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Thea.
- A meaning is recorded for Thea; Eleanor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Eleanor
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #98 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Thea
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1950–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1950–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #50 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls