Holly vs Louise
Holly and Louisecompared 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 1994, Holly was ranked #16 and Louise #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Holly was ranked #38 and Louise #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Holly was ranked #49 and Louise #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Louise #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Louise #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Louise over time
Holly and Louise appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Louise in 1.
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.
Louise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Holly 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 New Zealand · Girls, Holly moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1984 as Louise fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Holly moved ahead of Louise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #79 and #75 the year before became #60 and #64.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Louise were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #816.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Louise in 20.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Louise #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 2001: Holly moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #53 and #53; by 2001 that had become #49 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Louise #213.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Louise in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Louise #816.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Holly held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Louise in 1.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Louise #33 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Holly moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #46 and #33; by 1998 that had become #42 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Holly #38, Louise #296.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1983–1994
Holly held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Louise in 1.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Louise #34 in 1983.
The order changed in 1984: Holly moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #73 and #34; by 1984 that had become #35 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Holly #16, Louise #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1983–1995
Holly held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Louise in 7.
Highest recorded here: Holly #49 in 1995, Louise #35 in 1983.
The order changed in 1991: Holly moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #79 and #75; by 1991 that had become #60 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Holly #49, Louise #100.
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 | Holly | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly and Louise both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls