Irene vs Lene
Irene and Lenecompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2021, Irene was ranked #439 and Lene #482 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2012, Irene was ranked #1991 and Lene #5876 among girls in England and Wales.
Irene and Lene over time
Irene and Lene appear together in 2 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Irene and Lene changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2021, ending at #439 and #482.
- Longest-running competitions
Irene and Lene were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 72 years, from 1946 to 2021, ending at #439 and #482.
List by list
Norway · Girls72 shared years, 1946–2021
Irene held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Lene in 44.
Highest recorded here: Irene #34 in 1965, Lene #4 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Irene #439, Lene #482.
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 2000–2012
Irene held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lene in 1.
Highest recorded here: Irene #1082 in 2005, Lene #1831 in 2000.
The order changed in 2001: Irene moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #1995 and #1831; by 2001 that had become #1359 and #3998.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Irene #1991, Lene #5876.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Lene
Pairs where Lene shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Lene vs Andrea
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Andrea rose about as far as Lene fell — from #258 and #401 in 1952 to #482 and #75 in 2021.
Lene · Andrea · 63 shared years, 1952–2021 · Mirrored each other
- Lene vs Julia
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Girls, Julia rose about as far as Lene fell — from #308 and #401 in 1953 to #482 and #51 in 2021.
Lene · Julia · 62 shared years, 1953–2021 · Mirrored each other
- Lene vs Victoria
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Girls, Victoria rose about as far as Lene fell — from #265 and #383 in 1951 to #482 and #66 in 2021.
Lene · Victoria · 62 shared years, 1951–2021 · Mirrored each other
- Lene vs Alexandra
Over 57 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alexandra rose about as far as Lene fell — from #258 and #400 in 1952 to #482 and #148 in 2021.
Lene · Alexandra · 57 shared years, 1952–2021 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Irene | Lene |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Norway · Girls #482 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Irene has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lene.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
How each name got here
Irene
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #60 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: #34 among girls in Norway, in 1965 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #507 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lene
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #377 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2021
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Norway, in 1976 (recorded 1946–2021).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #482 among girls in Norway, in 2021.
Norway · Girls