Ella vs Jane
Ella and Janecompared 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 2013, Ella was ranked #9 and Jane #576 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Jane #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Ella and Jane over time
Ella and Jane appear together in 4 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jane 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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ella 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 2001, Ella moved ahead of Jane in Northern Ireland · Girls — #86 and #80 the year before became #82 and #132.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Jane fell — from #137 and #246 in 1945 to #9 and #576 in 2013.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Jane were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 54 years, from 1945 to 2013, ending at #9 and #576.
List by list
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1945–2013
Ella held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jane in 34.
Highest recorded here: Ella #9 in 2013, Jane #73 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Ella #9, Jane #576.
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Jane in 20.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Jane #62 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Ella moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #76 and #68; by 2000 that had become #65 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Jane #213.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Jane #1160.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jane in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order changed in 2001: Ella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #86 and #80; by 2001 that had become #82 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Jane #288.
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 | Ella | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella and Jane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Jane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls