Elizabeth vs Pauline
Elizabeth and Paulinecompared 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 1966, Elizabeth was ranked #15 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Elizabeth was ranked #29 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #74 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Elizabeth was ranked #91 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Elizabeth was ranked #327 and Pauline #395 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Pauline over time
Elizabeth and Pauline appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Pauline in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Pauline 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Pauline changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2023, ending at #327 and #395.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Pauline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 45 years, from 1946 to 2023, ending at #327 and #395.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #91 and #896.
List by list
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1946–2023
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Pauline in 15.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #160 in 1958, Pauline #242 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elizabeth #327, Pauline #395.
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Elizabeth #91, Pauline #896.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #74, Pauline #4201.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #7 in 1954, Pauline #31 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Elizabeth #29, Pauline #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #10 in 1952, Pauline #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Elizabeth #15, Pauline #86.
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 | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #74 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Pauline does not have one recorded yet.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
- A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Pauline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls