Grace vs Rachael
Grace and Rachaelcompared 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 2017, Grace was ranked #2 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Grace was ranked #2 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Grace was ranked #11 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Rachael #3318 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Grace was ranked #25 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Grace and Rachael over time
Grace and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 127 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachael in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Grace moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2002 as Rachael fell out of it to #58, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Grace moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #46 and #45 the year before became #41 and #44.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Rachael were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #2 and #747.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Grace held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #2 in 2016, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Grace #2, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Rachael #3318.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Grace held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Grace #2 in 2006, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Grace moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #44 and #42; by 2002 that had become #30 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Grace #2, Rachael #432.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1988–2001
Grace held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Grace #11 in 2001, Rachael #44 in 1992.
The order changed in 1992: Grace moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #46 and #45; by 1992 that had become #41 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Grace #11, Rachael #100.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1987–1994
Grace held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Rachael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Grace #24 in 1992, Rachael #46 in 1991.
The order changed in 1991: Grace moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #66 and #60; by 1991 that had become #43 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Grace #25, Rachael #91.
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 | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, 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 | 82/100 |
| 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); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Rachael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Rachael 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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 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 recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls