Janet vs Pamela
Janet and Pamelacompared 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 1964, Janet was ranked #68 and Pamela #78 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1966, Janet was ranked #80 and Pamela #79 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Janet was ranked #439 and Pamela #362 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Janet was ranked #4867 and Pamela #2605 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Pamela over time
Janet and Pamela appear together in 4 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Pamela held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Janet 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 1 of those lists, and Pamela 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 1963, Janet moved ahead of Pamela in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #64 and #63 the year before became #60 and #88.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Pamela changed places 12 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #2605.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Pamela were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #2605.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Pamela #891 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1964–2003
Janet held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Pamela in 33.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Pamela #30 in 1980.
The order changed in 2001: Pamela moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #378 and #465; by 2001 that had become #498 and #498.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Janet #439, Pamela #362.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Janet held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Pamela in 14.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Pamela #891 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Janet #4867, Pamela #2605.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1952–1964
Janet held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Pamela in 10.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Pamela #20 in 1952.
The order changed in 1963: Janet moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #64 and #63; by 1963 that had become #60 and #88.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Janet #68, Pamela #78.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Janet held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Pamela in 8.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Pamela #21 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Janet #80, Pamela #79.
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 | Pamela |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2605 (2025) |
| 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 Pamela.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Pamela
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1964
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1964).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls