Namewise

Erin vs Grace

Erin and Gracecompared 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Erin was ranked #25 and Grace #1 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Erin was ranked #71 and Grace #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2004, Erin was ranked #96 and Grace #9 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2011, Erin was ranked #81 and Grace #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Erin was ranked #72 and Grace #13 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Erin was ranked #65 and Grace #25 among girls in England and Wales.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2006, Erin was ranked #2282 and Grace #4052 among boys in England and Wales.

Erin and Grace over time

Erin and Grace appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Erin 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.

Erin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Grace 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 1995, Grace moved ahead of Erin in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #44 the year before became #47 and #28.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Erin and Grace averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #65 and #25.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Erin and Grace were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #71 and #4.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Erin #27 in 2007, Grace #1 in 2006.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 19752025

    Erin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Grace in 50.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #34 in 2006, Grace #1 in 2020.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #71, Grace #4.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Erin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Grace in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #27 in 2007, Grace #1 in 2006.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #65, Grace #25.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 19972024

    Erin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Grace in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #5 in 2009, Grace #1 in 2013.

    The order changed in 2006: Grace moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #16 and #22; by 2006 that had become #10 and #2.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #25, Grace #1.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 19882011

    Erin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Grace in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #25 in 1988, Grace #10 in 2002.

    The order changed in 1995: Grace moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #38 and #44; by 1995 that had become #47 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2011: Erin #81, Grace #13.

  • New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 19872004

    Erin held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Grace in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #47 in 1987, Grace #9 in 2004.

    The order changed in 1989: Grace moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #52 and #83; by 1989 that had become #77 and #66.

    Most recent shared year, 2004: Erin #96, Grace #9.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Erin, Grace
FieldErinGrace
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself.Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name).
OriginIrishEnglish (virtue name), from Latin gratia
Pronunciation/ˈɛɹ.ɪn//ˈɡɹeɪs/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedGracie
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #71 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Erin is recorded with a Irish origin, while Grace is recorded with a English (virtue name), from Latin gratia origin.
  • Erin and Grace both have 2 syllables.
  • Erin's recorded meaning differs from Grace's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Erin a "medium" Data Confidence level and Grace a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Erin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1975

    First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #71 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Grace

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #393 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls