Grace vs Imelda
Grace and Imeldacompared 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, Grace was ranked #25 and Imelda #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Grace was ranked #32 and Imelda #498 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Grace and Imelda over time
Grace and Imelda appear together in 2 published lists, across 54 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Imelda 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1978, Grace moved ahead of Imelda in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #141 and #131 the year before became #107 and #172.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Imelda changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 1998, ending at #32 and #498.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Imelda were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1964 to 1998, ending at #32 and #498.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1964–1998
Grace held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Imelda in 9.
Highest recorded here: Grace #29 in 1988, Imelda #80 in 1965.
The order changed in 1978: Grace moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #141 and #131; by 1978 that had become #107 and #172.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Grace #32, Imelda #498.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Imelda in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #7 in 2009, Imelda #1562 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Imelda #2115.
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 | Grace | Imelda |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Gracie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Imelda does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Imelda.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Imelda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Imelda a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Grace
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Imelda
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #87 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 recorded1964–1998
Highest recorded position: #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–1998).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls