Elizabeth vs Jennifer
Elizabeth and Jennifercompared 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 2003, Elizabeth was ranked #32 and Jennifer #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2003, Elizabeth was ranked #42 and Jennifer #84 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #74 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #76 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #113 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Elizabeth was ranked #147 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Elizabeth was ranked #322 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Jennifer over time
Elizabeth and Jennifer appear together in 6 published lists, across 269 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jennifer in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jennifer 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 1983, Elizabeth moved ahead of Jennifer in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #20 and #18 the year before became #17 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Jennifer changed places 15 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 2003, ending at #42 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 52 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Elizabeth and Jennifer averaged 16.5 places apart, ending at #32 and #88.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #74 and #650.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #55 and #55 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2022 they were #147 and #354.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #76, Jennifer #413.
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1946–2020
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Jennifer in 22.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #154 in 1968, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Elizabeth #322, Jennifer #493.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls52 shared years, 1952–2003
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #10 in 1952, Jennifer #1 in 1956.
The order changed in 1983: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #20 and #18; by 1983 that had become #17 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Elizabeth #32, Jennifer #88.
New Zealand · Girls49 shared years, 1954–2003
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Jennifer in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #7 in 1954, Jennifer #4 in 1957.
The order changed in 1986: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #23 and #20; by 1986 that had become #18 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Elizabeth #42, Jennifer #84.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #74, Jennifer #650.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jennifer in 2.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #55 in 1997, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #114 and #114; by 2004 that had become #82 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Elizabeth #147, Jennifer #354.
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 | Elizabeth | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist. | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #74 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- Elizabeth's recorded meaning differs from Jennifer's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Elizabeth
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #341 among girls in Norway in 1945 — 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 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #74 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls