Elizabeth vs Rachel
Elizabeth and Rachelcompared 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 2007, Elizabeth was ranked #36 and Rachel #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Elizabeth was ranked #45 and Rachel #98 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #62 and Rachel #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #76 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #113 and Rachel #431 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Elizabeth was ranked #124 and Rachel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Elizabeth was ranked #484 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Elizabeth and Rachel over time
Elizabeth and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 257 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.
Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Rachel 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 2018, Elizabeth moved ahead of Rachel in Northern Ireland · Girls — #110 and #91 the year before became #101 and #119.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Elizabeth and Rachel changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1968 and 2007, ending at #36 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 40 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Elizabeth and Rachel averaged 12.8 places apart, ending at #36 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Elizabeth and Rachel were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 40 years, from 1968 to 2007, ending at #36 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #27 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #62 and #377.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachel in 32.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #76, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls57 shared years, 1951–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Rachel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #154 in 1968, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order changed in 2024: Rachel moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #327 and #451; by 2024 that had become #484 and #472.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #484, Rachel #472.
New Zealand · Girls42 shared years, 1965–2006
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Rachel in 32.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #14 in 1984, Rachel #3 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Elizabeth #45, Rachel #98.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls40 shared years, 1968–2007
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Rachel in 16.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #15 in 1968, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Elizabeth #36, Rachel #71.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rachel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elizabeth #62, Rachel #377.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Elizabeth held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Rachel in 20.
Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #55 in 1997, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order changed in 2018: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #110 and #91; by 2018 that had become #101 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elizabeth #124, Rachel #142.
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 | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | /ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/ | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #76 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (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 Rachel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel origin.
- Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachel.
- Elizabeth's recorded meaning differs from Rachel'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 #83 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls