Helen vs Jacqueline
Helen and Jacquelinecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1982, Helen was ranked #84 and Jacqueline #46 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Helen was ranked #73 and Jacqueline #95 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 1995, Helen was ranked #175 and Jacqueline #634 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Helen was ranked #377 and Jacqueline #278 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #381 and Jacqueline #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Jacqueline #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Helen and Jacqueline over time
Helen and Jacqueline appear together in 5 published lists, across 172 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jacqueline in 0.
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 2 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 1968, Jacqueline moved ahead of Helen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #19 and #25 the year before became #20 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Helen and Jacqueline changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1986, ending at #73 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Helen and Jacqueline averaged 28.6 places apart, ending at #84 and #46.
- Longest-running competitions
Helen and Jacqueline were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #1892.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Jacqueline #349 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #13 and #11 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Jacqueline in 1.
Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Jacqueline #11 in 1964.
The order changed in 1965: Helen moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #13 and #11; by 1965 that had become #12 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #381, Jacqueline #718.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Helen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Jacqueline in 7.
Highest recorded here: Helen #12 in 1958, Jacqueline #11 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Helen #73, Jacqueline #95.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1952–1982
Helen held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jacqueline in 15.
Highest recorded here: Helen #9 in 1952, Jacqueline #19 in 1968.
The order changed in 1968: Jacqueline moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #19 and #25; by 1968 that had become #20 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Helen #84, Jacqueline #46.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Helen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jacqueline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Jacqueline #349 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Jacqueline #1892.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1955–1995
Helen held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jacqueline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Jacqueline #286 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Helen #175, Jacqueline #634.
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 | Helen | Jacqueline |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, meaning disputed | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛl.ən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elena | 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 #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 64/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Jacqueline does not have one recorded yet.
- Helen has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Jacqueline.
- A meaning is recorded for Helen; Jacqueline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Jacqueline a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Helen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #149 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Jacqueline
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #75 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 recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New Zealand, in 1964 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls