Janet vs Shirley
Janet and Shirleycompared 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 1961, Janet was ranked #62 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Janet was ranked #65 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Janet was ranked #439 and Shirley #490 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Janet was ranked #4867 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Shirley over time
Janet and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Janet held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shirley in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 Shirley 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 Shirley changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4867 and #4201.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Janet and Shirley averaged 30.6 places apart, ending at #439 and #490.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2003, ending at #439 and #490.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Janet #36 in 1952, Shirley #48 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2003
Janet held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shirley in 21.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Janet #439, Shirley #490.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Janet held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shirley in 8.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order changed in 2024: Shirley moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2346 and #3218; by 2024 that had become #3318 and #3015.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Janet #4867, Shirley #4201.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Janet held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Janet #65, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Janet held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Shirley #48 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Janet #62, Shirley #100.
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
Side by side
| Field | Janet | Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janet and Shirley 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shirley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #48 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: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls