Heidi vs Jane
Heidi and Janecompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1980, Heidi was ranked #93 and Jane #52 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Heidi was ranked #65 and Jane #288 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Heidi was ranked #87 and Jane #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Heidi was ranked #91 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Heidi was ranked #107 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Heidi was ranked #197 and Jane #576 among girls in Norway.
Heidi and Jane over time
Heidi and Jane appear together in 5 published lists, across 176 years of shared records. Heidi held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jane in 2.
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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Heidi 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 1984, Heidi moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #94 and #81 the year before became #87 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Heidi and Jane were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 61 years, from 1945 to 2013, ending at #197 and #576.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Heidi #64 in 1973, Jane #37 in 1971.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1945–2013
Heidi held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Jane in 2.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #2 in 1965, Jane #73 in 1960.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Heidi #197, Jane #576.
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1968–2025
Heidi held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Jane in 32.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #74 in 2019, Jane #64 in 1995.
The order changed in 2011: Heidi moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #113 and #107; by 2011 that had become #120 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heidi #91, Jane #213.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Heidi held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #76 in 2016, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heidi #107, Jane #1160.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2024
Heidi held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jane in 8.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #48 in 2021, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order changed in 2007: Heidi moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #184 and #170; by 2007 that had become #162 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heidi #65, Jane #288.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1971–1984
Heidi held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jane in 13.
Highest recorded here: Heidi #64 in 1973, Jane #37 in 1971.
The order changed in 1984: Heidi moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #94 and #81; by 1984 that had become #87 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Heidi #87, Jane #93.
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 | Heidi | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A German diminutive of Adelheid. Gained wide recognition through Johanna Spyri's 1880 children's novel Heidi, and its 1937 film adaptation starring Shirley Temple. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhaɪ̯.di/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 #91 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Heidi has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive of Adelheid); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Heidi and Jane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Heidi; Jane doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Heidi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #188 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #437 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls