Jacqueline vs Margaret
Jacqueline and Margaretcompared 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 1974, Jacqueline was ranked #43 and Margaret #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Jacqueline was ranked #75 and Margaret #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jacqueline was ranked #718 and Margaret #135 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2005, Jacqueline was ranked #278 and Margaret #318 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jacqueline was ranked #1892 and Margaret #413 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Jacqueline was ranked #608 and Margaret #661 among girls in Norway.
Jacqueline and Margaret over time
Jacqueline and Margaret appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Margaret held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jacqueline 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.
Margaret reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jacqueline in 2. 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 1966, Jacqueline moved ahead of Margaret in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #36 and #24 the year before became #26 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jacqueline and Margaret changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1955 and 1991, ending at #608 and #661.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jacqueline and Margaret averaged 44.7 places apart, ending at #43 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Jacqueline and Margaret were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #413.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Jacqueline #11 in 1964, Margaret #2 in 1965.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #11 and #3 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #135.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2025
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 49.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #11 in 1964, Margaret #2 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacqueline #718, Margaret #135.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Margaret in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #349 in 1996, Margaret #357 in 2020.
The order changed in 1997: Margaret moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #349 and #375; by 1997 that had become #416 and #401.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jacqueline #1892, Margaret #413.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1955–1991
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Margaret in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #286 in 1965, Margaret #118 in 1955.
The order changed in 1988: Jacqueline moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #607 and #524; by 1988 that had become #524 and #534.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Jacqueline #608, Margaret #661.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1954–1984
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Margaret in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #11 in 1964, Margaret #3 in 1954.
The order changed in 1962: Jacqueline moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #19 and #17; by 1962 that had become #18 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jacqueline #75, Margaret #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974
Jacqueline held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Margaret in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jacqueline #19 in 1968, Margaret #3 in 1952.
The order changed in 1966: Jacqueline moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #36 and #24; by 1966 that had become #26 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Jacqueline #43, Margaret #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 | Jacqueline | Margaret |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Margarita, from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl' — likely originally borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language. Associated with Saint Margaret, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of expectant mothers. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɑɹ.ɡɹɪt/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 64/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Margaret has a recorded origin (Greek); Jacqueline does not have one recorded yet.
- Jacqueline has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Margaret.
- A meaning is recorded for Margaret; Jacqueline 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
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
Margaret
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #173 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls