Grace vs Janet
Grace 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Grace was ranked #2 and Janet #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Janet #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Grace was ranked #50 and Janet #344 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1988, Grace was ranked #485 and Janet #622 among girls in Norway.
Grace and Janet over time
Grace and Janet appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Janet 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, 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 1980, Grace moved ahead of Janet in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #131 and #124 the year before became #117 and #155.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Janet changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1953 and 1988, ending at #485 and #622.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Janet were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #2 and #896.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Grace held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Janet in 12.
Highest recorded here: Grace #2 in 2018, Janet #86 in 1966.
The order changed in 1980: Grace moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #131 and #124; by 1980 that had become #117 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Grace #2, Janet #896.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Janet in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Janet #1031 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Janet #3318.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1953–1988
Grace held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Janet in 20.
Highest recorded here: Grace #321 in 1959, Janet #243 in 1963.
The order changed in 1987: Grace moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #600 and #505; by 1987 that had become #607 and #659.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Grace #485, Janet #622.
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 | Janet |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Gracie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Janet does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace and Janet both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Janet doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Janet 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
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