Ellen vs Lauren
Ellen and Laurencompared 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 Lauren #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Lauren #26 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Lauren #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ellen was ranked #135 and Lauren #264 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Lauren #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Lauren #934 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Lauren over time
Ellen and Lauren appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Lauren held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ellen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lauren 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 2018, Ellen moved ahead of Lauren in Northern Ireland · Girls — #103 and #99 the year before became #145 and #151.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ellen and Lauren changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #736 and #934.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Ellen and Lauren averaged 37.8 places apart, ending at #135 and #264.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Lauren were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #166 and #118.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Lauren #5 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1971–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lauren in 38.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Lauren #6 in 2001.
The order changed in 1988: Lauren moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #93 and #129; by 1988 that had become #95 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Lauren #118.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lauren in 26.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Lauren #5 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Ellen moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #962 and #865; by 2024 that had become #736 and #934.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Lauren #934.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Ellen held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lauren in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Lauren #2 in 2001.
The order changed in 2018: Ellen moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #103 and #99; by 2018 that had become #145 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ellen #135, Lauren #264.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lauren in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Lauren #6 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Lauren #6.
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 | Lauren |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A variant/feminine form of Laurence, tracing to the place name Laurentum. First popularized as a feminine name by actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Jean Perske). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ən/ | |
| 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 #118 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lauren has a recorded origin (Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Lauren both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lauren; 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
Lauren
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls