Fionnuala vs Janet
Fionnuala and Janetcompared 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 1999, Fionnuala was ranked #167 and Janet #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Fionnuala was ranked #677 and Janet #907 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fionnuala was ranked #2605 and Janet #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Fionnuala and Janet over time
Fionnuala and Janet appear together in 2 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Janet held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fionnuala 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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Fionnuala 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fionnuala and Janet changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2605 and #4867.
- Longest-running competitions
Fionnuala and Janet were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 42 years, from 1964 to 2012, ending at #677 and #907.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fionnuala #955 in 1998, Janet #1031 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2012
Fionnuala held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Janet in 25.
Highest recorded here: Fionnuala #116 in 1966, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order changed in 2010: Fionnuala moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #439 and #439; by 2010 that had become #593 and #910.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Fionnuala #677, Janet #907.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Fionnuala held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Janet in 21.
Highest recorded here: Fionnuala #955 in 1998, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fionnuala #2605, Janet #4867.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Janet
Pairs where Janet shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eleanor vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #142 and #896.
Eleanor · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michelle vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #114 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Michelle · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Fionnuala | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2605 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fionnuala has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Janet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Fionnuala
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #135 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 recorded1964–2019
Highest recorded position: #116 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2019).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls