Janet vs Michelle
Janet and Michellecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1966, Janet was ranked #80 and Michelle #1 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Janet was ranked #82 and Michelle #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Michelle #94 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Michelle #125 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Michelle #336 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Michelle #360 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Michelle over time
Janet and Michelle appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Michelle held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Janet in 0.
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.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Michelle 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 1957, Michelle moved ahead of Janet in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #62 the year before became #47 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Michelle changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 1991, ending at #652 and #94.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in Norway · Girls, Michelle rose about as far as Janet fell — from #397 and #407 in 1966 to #652 and #94 in 1991.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Michelle were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #336.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #106 and #114 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #336.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Michelle in 41.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Michelle #2 in 1978.
The order changed in 1966: Michelle moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #87 and #96; by 1966 that had become #86 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Michelle #336.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michelle in 29.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Michelle #153 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Michelle #360.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1966–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Michelle in 16.
Highest recorded here: Janet #258 in 1973, Michelle #94 in 1991.
The order changed in 1976: Michelle moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #293 and #475; by 1976 that had become #402 and #325.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Michelle #94.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Janet held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Michelle in 9.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Michelle #3 in 1965.
The order changed in 1957: Michelle moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #42 and #62; by 1957 that had become #47 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Janet #82, Michelle #3.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1957–1966
Janet held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Michelle in 7.
Highest recorded here: Janet #29 in 1957, Michelle #1 in 1966.
The order changed in 1960: Michelle moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #32 and #45; by 1960 that had become #38 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Janet #80, Michelle #1.
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 | Michelle |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #304 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janet has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Michelle.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, 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
Michelle
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #95 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 recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1967 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls