Gillian vs Janet
Gillian 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1966, Gillian was ranked #92 and Janet #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Gillian was ranked #344 and Janet #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Gillian was ranked #663 and Janet #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Gillian was ranked #3695 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Gillian and Janet over time
Gillian and Janet appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Janet held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gillian in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 2 of those lists, and Gillian 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 1967, Gillian moved ahead of Janet in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #102 and #86 the year before became #85 and #106.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gillian and Janet changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3695 and #3318.
- Longest-running competitions
Gillian and Janet were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #910.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gillian #703 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #107 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2010 they were #663 and #910.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1964–2010
Gillian held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Janet in 3.
Highest recorded here: Gillian #27 in 1977, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order changed in 1967: Gillian moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #102 and #86; by 1967 that had become #85 and #106.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gillian #663, Janet #910.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Gillian held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Janet in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gillian #703 in 1996, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Janet moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3961 and #4634; by 2023 that had become #4709 and #2346.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gillian #3695, Janet #3318.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Gillian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Janet in 13.
Highest recorded here: Gillian #60 in 1956, Janet #19 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Gillian #92, Janet #80.
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 | Gillian | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gillian and Janet both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls