Ellen vs Erin
Ellen and Erincompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Erin #25 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Erin #54 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Erin #65 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Erin #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Erin #72 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Ellen was ranked #84 and Erin #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Ellen and Erin over time
Ellen and Erin appear together in 4 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Erin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Ellen 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.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Erin 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 1999, Erin moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #78 and #79 the year before became #78 and #68.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellen and Erin averaged 53.9 places apart, ending at #150 and #25.
- Mirrored each other
Over 50 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Erin rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #89 and #503 in 1975 to #166 and #71 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Erin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #166 and #71.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1975–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Erin in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Erin #34 in 2006.
The order changed in 2008: Erin moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #35 and #40; by 2008 that had become #39 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Erin #71.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Erin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Erin #27 in 2007.
The order changed in 1999: Erin moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #78 and #79; by 1999 that had become #78 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Erin #65.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Erin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Erin #5 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Erin #25.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Erin in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Erin #25 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Erin #54.
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 | Ellen | Erin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛɹ.ɪn/ | |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Erin has a recorded origin (Irish); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Erin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Erin; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Erin
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls