Ellen vs Kirsten
Ellen and Kirstencompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Ellen was ranked #86 and Kirsten #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Ellen was ranked #90 and Kirsten #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Kirsten #510 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Kirsten #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Kirsten over time
Ellen and Kirsten appear together in 4 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Kirsten in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Kirsten reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1953, Ellen moved ahead of Kirsten in Norway · Girls — #26 and #25 the year before became #22 and #30.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Kirsten were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 68 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #208 and #510.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #29 and #20 in Norway · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #208 and #510.
List by list
Norway · Girls68 shared years, 1945–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Kirsten in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #15 in 1955, Kirsten #20 in 1945.
The order changed in 1953: Ellen moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #26 and #25; by 1953 that had become #22 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Kirsten #510.
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1971–2019
Ellen held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Kirsten #186 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ellen #86, Kirsten #621.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Kirsten #195 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Kirsten #5891.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2015
Ellen held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Kirsten in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Kirsten #75 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Ellen #90, Kirsten #426.
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 | Kirsten |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Norway · Girls #510 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ellen and Kirsten both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Kirsten
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 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: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #510 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls