Jan vs Lynne
Jan and Lynnecompared 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 1961, Jan was ranked #99 and Lynne #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Jan was ranked #81 and Lynne #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Jan was ranked #576 and Lynne #440 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2006, Jan was ranked #3548 and Lynne #4157 among girls in England and Wales.
Jan and Lynne over time
Jan and Lynne appear together in 3 published lists, across 32 years of shared records. Lynne held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jan in 1.
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 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1955, Jan moved ahead of Lynne in New Zealand · Girls — #66 and #62 the year before became #64 and #68.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jan #63 in 1952, Lynne #49 in 1952.
List by list
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Jan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lynne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jan #47 in 1961, Lynne #62 in 1954.
The order changed in 1955: Jan moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #66 and #62; by 1955 that had become #64 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Jan #81, Lynne #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Jan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lynne in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jan #63 in 1952, Lynne #49 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Jan #99, Lynne #75.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1964–1997
Jan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lynne in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jan #327 in 1964, Lynne #223 in 1984.
The order changed in 1976: Lynne moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #327 and #372; by 1976 that had become #497 and #236.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jan #576, Lynne #440.
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 | Jan | Lynne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | A form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɑːn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #149 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5742 (2013) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jan has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission); Lynne does not have one recorded yet.
- Jan has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Lynne.
- A meaning is recorded for Jan; Lynne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #2 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Lynne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #49 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 recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2013
Most recently recorded at #5742 among girls in England and Wales, in 2013.
England and Wales · Girls