Grace vs Rachel
Grace and Rachelcompared 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 2023, Grace was ranked #3 and Rachel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #4 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Grace was ranked #7 and Rachel #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #13 and Rachel #431 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Grace was ranked #15 and Rachel #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Rachel #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #459 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
Grace and Rachel over time
Grace and Rachel appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachel in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 1999, Grace moved ahead of Rachel in England and Wales · Girls — #35 and #29 the year before became #28 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Rachel changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1962 and 2024, ending at #459 and #472.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Grace and Rachel averaged 36.7 places apart, ending at #15 and #71.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Rachel were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 40 years, from 1962 to 2024, ending at #459 and #472.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rachel in 40.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2020, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #4, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1962–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rachel in 32.
Highest recorded here: Grace #354 in 2017, Rachel #214 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #459, Rachel #472.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rachel in 3.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Grace moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #35 and #29; by 1999 that had become #28 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Rachel #377.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Grace held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachel in 9.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2013, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order changed in 2006: Grace moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #22 and #15; by 2006 that had become #2 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Grace #3, Rachel #142.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1988–2007
Grace held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Rachel in 10.
Highest recorded here: Grace #10 in 2002, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order changed in 1998: Grace moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #23 and #20; by 1998 that had become #17 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Grace #15, Rachel #71.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1987–2006
Grace held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Rachel in 7.
Highest recorded here: Grace #5 in 2000, Rachel #8 in 1988.
The order changed in 1994: Grace moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #34 and #17; by 1994 that had become #25 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Grace #7, Rachel #98.
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 | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a English (virtue name), from Latin gratia origin, while Rachel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel origin.
- Grace and Rachel both have 2 syllables.
- Grace's recorded meaning differs from Rachel's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Rachel 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
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls