Janet vs Maeve
Janet 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, Janet was ranked #3318 and Maeve #26 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Maeve #58 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Maeve #114 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Janet and Maeve over time
Janet and Maeve appear together in 2 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Maeve held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Janet in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Maeve changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #896 and #114.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Maeve were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #114.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Maeve in 39.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Maeve #59 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Maeve #114.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maeve in 29.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Maeve #26 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Maeve #26.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Janet
Pairs where Janet shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Annie vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #112 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #73 and #896.
Annie · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eleanor vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #98 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #142 and #896.
Eleanor · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michelle vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #114 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #336 and #896.
Michelle · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Maeve
Pairs where Maeve shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Audrey vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #85 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #60.
Audrey · Maeve · 56 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deborah vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #76 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Deborah · Maeve · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Katherine vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #77 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #60.
Katherine · Maeve · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Janet | 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 | |
| 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 | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #38 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janet 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
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
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