Jane vs Maeve
Jane and Maevecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Maeve #26 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #288 and Maeve #57 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Maeve #60 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Jane and Maeve over time
Jane and Maeve appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Maeve held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jane 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.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Maeve in none. 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 2018, Maeve moved ahead of Jane in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #126 and #133 the year before became #162 and #114.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Maeve changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1160 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Jane and Maeve averaged 28.4 places apart, ending at #213 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Maeve were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #213 and #60.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #89 and #83 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #288 and #57.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Maeve in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Maeve #59 in 2000.
The order changed in 2018: Maeve moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #126 and #133; by 2018 that had become #162 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Maeve #60.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Maeve in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Maeve #26 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Maeve moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #727 and #755; by 2008 that had become #995 and #878.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Maeve #26.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Maeve in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Maeve #57 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #288, Maeve #57.
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 | Maeve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Jane and Maeve both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Maeve
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #80 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2020–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 2023 (recorded 2020–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls