Jane vs Louise
Jane 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1984, Jane was ranked #93 and Louise #44 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Louise #73 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Louise #98 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Louise #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Jane was ranked #432 and Louise #296 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Louise #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Jane and Louise over time
Jane and Louise appear together in 6 published lists, across 228 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, Louise 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 1967, Louise moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #27 the year before became #29 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Louise changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1988, ending at #96 and #73.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jane and Louise averaged 12.3 places apart, ending at #93 and #44.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Louise were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #93 and #44.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Louise in 43.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Louise #213.
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1946–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Louise in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jane #75 in 1959, Louise #98 in 2013.
The order changed in 1989: Louise moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #235 and #236; by 1989 that had become #336 and #281.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Louise #98.
New Zealand · Girls34 shared years, 1954–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Louise in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jane #28 in 1957, Louise #27 in 1980.
The order changed in 1978: Louise moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #44 and #48; by 1978 that had become #49 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Louise #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1984
Jane held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Louise in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jane #25 in 1966, Louise #23 in 1967.
The order changed in 1967: Louise moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #25 and #27; by 1967 that had become #29 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jane #93, Louise #44.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Louise in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Louise #952.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Jane held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Louise in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Louise #33 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jane #432, Louise #296.
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 | 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 | Not yet recorded | /lu.ˈiz/ |
| 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 #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Jane and Louise both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; 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
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 #59 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls