Elisabeth vs May
Elisabeth and Maycompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elisabeth was ranked #171 and May #481 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elisabeth was ranked #1449 and May #610 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elisabeth was ranked #885 and May #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Elisabeth and May over time
Elisabeth and May appear together in 3 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. May held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Elisabeth in 1.
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.
May reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Elisabeth 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 1962, Elisabeth moved ahead of May in Norway · Girls — #30 and #26 the year before became #21 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elisabeth and May changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1449 and #610.
- Longest-running competitions
Elisabeth and May were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 80 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #171 and #481.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Elisabeth #502 in 2019, May #289 in 2017.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #50 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #171 and #481.
List by list
Norway · Girls80 shared years, 1945–2025
Elisabeth held the stronger position in 72 of those years, May in 8.
Highest recorded here: Elisabeth #6 in 1978, May #24 in 1956.
The order changed in 1962: Elisabeth moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #30 and #26; by 1962 that had become #21 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elisabeth #171, May #481.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elisabeth held the stronger position in 9 of those years, May in 20.
Highest recorded here: Elisabeth #374 in 1998, May #325 in 2007.
The order changed in 2018: May moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #576 and #683; by 2018 that had become #864 and #778.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elisabeth #1449, May #610.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2003–2025
Elisabeth held the stronger position in 2 of those years, May in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elisabeth #502 in 2019, May #289 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elisabeth #885, May #718.
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 | Elisabeth | May |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #171 (2025) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elisabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Elisabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 1978 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #171 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #481 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls