Jane vs Lisa
Jane and Lisacompared 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 1984, Jane was ranked #93 and Lisa #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Lisa #13 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Lisa #101 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Jane was ranked #189 and Lisa #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Lisa #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Lisa #795 among girls in England and Wales.
Jane and Lisa over time
Jane and Lisa appear together in 6 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane in 2.
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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Lisa in 1. 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 1962, Lisa moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #33 and #39 the year before became #38 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Lisa changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2019, ending at #189 and #336.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jane and Lisa averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #93 and #9.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Lisa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 60 years, from 1945 to 2013, ending at #576 and #101.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Lisa in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Lisa #443.
Norway · Girls60 shared years, 1945–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Lisa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #73 in 1960, Lisa #37 in 1994.
The order changed in 1978: Lisa moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #136 and #138; by 1978 that had become #138 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Lisa #101.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Lisa #795.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1959–1984
Jane held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lisa in 23.
Highest recorded here: Jane #25 in 1966, Lisa #2 in 1968.
The order changed in 1962: Lisa moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #33 and #39; by 1962 that had become #38 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jane #93, Lisa #9.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1962–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jane #29 in 1965, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 1966: Lisa moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #29 and #31; by 1966 that had become #31 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Lisa #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2019
Jane held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lisa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Lisa #63 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Jane moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #237 and #237; by 2011 that had become #246 and #363.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jane #189, Lisa #336.
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 | Jane | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliː.sə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Jane and Lisa both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; Jane 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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls