Elizabeth vs Nicole
Elizabeth and Nicolecompared 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 2002, Elizabeth was ranked #36 and Nicole #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2007, Elizabeth was ranked #52 and Nicole #100 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #74 and Nicole #412 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #76 and Nicole #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #87 and Nicole #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #113 and Nicole #638 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #484 and Nicole #309 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Nicole over time
Elizabeth and Nicole appear together in 6 published lists, across 252 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nicole in 2.
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.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Nicole 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 2015, Elizabeth moved ahead of Nicole in Northern Ireland · Girls — #86 and #86 the year before became #99 and #116.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Nicole changed places 19 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2024, ending at #484 and #309.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Elizabeth and Nicole averaged 18.7 places apart, ending at #36 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Nicole were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #74 and #412.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #36 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #412.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Nicole in 24.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Nicole #15 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #76, Nicole #381.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1969–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Nicole in 23.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #176 in 1979, Nicole #205 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Nicole moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #327 and #368; by 2024 that had become #484 and #309.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #484, Nicole #309.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2002
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nicole in 28.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #14 in 1965, Nicole #2 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Elizabeth #36, Nicole #94.
New Zealand · Girls39 shared years, 1969–2007
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Nicole in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #14 in 1984, Nicole #5 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Elizabeth #52, Nicole #100.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nicole in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #74, Nicole #412.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Nicole in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #55 in 1997, Nicole #14 in 1998.
The order changed in 2015: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #86 and #86; by 2015 that had become #99 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #87, Nicole #407.
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 | Nicole |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ |
| 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 #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| 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 Nicole is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicole.
- Elizabeth's recorded meaning differs from Nicole'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
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #412 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls