Janet vs Janice
Janet and Janicecompared 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 1963, Janet was ranked #60 and Janice #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Janet was ranked #65 and Janice #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Janet was ranked #314 and Janice #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Janet was ranked #345 and Janice #498 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Janice #2771 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Janice over time
Janet and Janice appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Janet held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Janice in 0.
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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Janice 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 1955, Janet moved ahead of Janice in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #36 the year before became #38 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Janice changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3318 and #2771.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Janet and Janice averaged 51.7 places apart, ending at #345 and #498.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Janice were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1964 to 1998, ending at #345 and #498.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Janice #1364 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1964–1998
Janet held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Janice in 17.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Janice #117 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Janet #345, Janice #498.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Janice in 12.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Janice #1364 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Janice moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #3899 and #4535; by 2021 that had become #4634 and #3961.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Janice #2771.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1952–1963
Janet held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Janice in 3.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Janice #31 in 1953.
The order changed in 1955: Janet moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #42 and #36; by 1955 that had become #38 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Janet #60, Janice #94.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Janet held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Janice in 3.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Janice #22 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Janet #65, Janice #91.
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 | Janet | Janice |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2771 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janet has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Janice.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Janice
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #32 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 recorded1954–1964
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2771 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls