Grace vs Pamela
Grace and Pamelacompared 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 2017, Grace was ranked #3 and Pamela #873 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #27 and Pamela #2605 among girls in England and Wales.
Grace and Pamela over time
Grace and Pamela appear together in 2 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Pamela 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.
Pamela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Grace 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 1983, Grace moved ahead of Pamela in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #65 and #47 the year before became #39 and #47.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Pamela were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #27 and #2605.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1964–2017
Grace held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Pamela in 19.
Highest recorded here: Grace #3 in 2017, Pamela #30 in 1980.
The order changed in 1983: Grace moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #65 and #47; by 1983 that had become #39 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Grace #3, Pamela #873.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Pamela in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Pamela #891 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #27, Pamela #2605.
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 | Pamela |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2605 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Pamela does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Pamela.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Pamela doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Pamela 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #27 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Pamela
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls