Ellen vs Rachael
Ellen and Rachaelcompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Ellen was ranked #84 and Rachael #46 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Rachael #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Ellen was ranked #101 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ellen was ranked #103 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Rachael #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Rachael over time
Ellen and Rachael appear together in 4 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachael in 1.
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.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Ellen 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 1998, Ellen moved ahead of Rachael in Northern Ireland · Girls — #28 and #25 the year before became #29 and #40.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Rachael were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #101 and #747.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #28 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2017 they were #103 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Ellen held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Rachael in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ellen #101, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Rachael #3318.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Ellen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Ellen moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #28 and #25; by 1998 that had become #29 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ellen #103, Rachael #432.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rachael in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Rachael #68.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| 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 Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls