Ellen vs Phoebe
Ellen and Phoebecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Phoebe #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Phoebe #30 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Phoebe #46 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Phoebe #62 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Phoebe #97 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ellen and Phoebe over time
Ellen and Phoebe appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Phoebe in 1.
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.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Phoebe 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 1997, Phoebe moved ahead of Ellen in England and Wales · Girls — #63 and #65 the year before became #66 and #54.
- Mirrored each other
Over 39 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Phoebe rose about as far as Ellen fell — from #96 and #519 in 1985 to #166 and #97 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Phoebe were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #166 and #97.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #65 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #736 and #17.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1985–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Phoebe in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Phoebe #78 in 2022.
The order changed in 2022: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #101 and #123; by 2022 that had become #101 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Phoebe #97.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Phoebe in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Phoebe #17 in 2024.
The order changed in 1997: Phoebe moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #63 and #65; by 1997 that had become #66 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Phoebe #17.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Phoebe in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Phoebe #30 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Phoebe moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #59 and #66; by 2013 that had become #89 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Phoebe #30.
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 | Phoebe |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #65 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ellen and Phoebe both have 2 syllables.
- 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
Phoebe
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls