Ellen vs Jennifer
Ellen and Jennifercompared 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 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Jennifer #59 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Jennifer #68 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Ellen was ranked #121 and Jennifer #354 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Ellen was ranked #157 and Jennifer #493 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Jennifer #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Jennifer #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #1028 and Jennifer #650 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Jennifer over time
Ellen and Jennifer appear together in 5 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jennifer in 2.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ellen 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Jennifer were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #650.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1028 and #650.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Jennifer in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Jennifer #4 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Jennifer #413.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1946–2020
Ellen held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 1956, Jennifer #187 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Ellen #157, Jennifer #493.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Jennifer #54 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #1028, Jennifer #650.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Ellen held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jennifer in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Jennifer #55 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ellen #121, Jennifer #354.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jennifer in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Jennifer #31 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Jennifer #59.
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 | Jennifer |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, via Cornish transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jennifer.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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 #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls