Grainne vs Leanne
Grainne and Leannecompared 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 2010, Grainne was ranked #258 and Leanne #366 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Grainne was ranked #896 and Leanne #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Grainne was ranked #5669 and Leanne #1849 among girls in England and Wales.
Grainne and Leanne over time
Grainne and Leanne appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Grainne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leanne 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.
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 1998, Grainne moved ahead of Leanne in Northern Ireland · Girls — #97 and #93 the year before became #60 and #84.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grainne and Leanne changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1973 and 2018, ending at #896 and #734.
- Longest-running competitions
Grainne and Leanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1973 to 2018, ending at #896 and #734.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Grainne #1234 in 1997, Leanne #88 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1973–2018
Grainne held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Leanne in 11.
Highest recorded here: Grainne #37 in 1989, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order changed in 2018: Leanne moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #233 and #430; by 2018 that had become #896 and #734.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Grainne #896, Leanne #734.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2022
Grainne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leanne in 19.
Highest recorded here: Grainne #1234 in 1997, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Grainne #5669, Leanne #1849.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Grainne held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Leanne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Grainne #60 in 1998, Leanne #84 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Grainne moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #97 and #93; by 1998 that had become #60 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Grainne #258, Leanne #366.
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 | Grainne | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Girls #407 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Grainne and Leanne both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Grainne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #62 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1989 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #407 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Girls
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls