Janet vs Therese
Janet and Theresecompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Therese #48 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Janet was ranked #82 and Therese #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Janet was ranked #314 and Therese #314 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Janet was ranked #907 and Therese #768 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Janet was ranked #2346 and Therese #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Therese over time
Janet and Therese appear together in 4 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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, Therese in 1. 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 2001, Therese moved ahead of Janet in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #378 and #413 the year before became #498 and #166.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Therese changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2012, ending at #907 and #768.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Janet and Therese averaged 52.4 places apart, ending at #907 and #768.
- Mirrored each other
Over 32 shared years in Norway · Girls, Therese rose about as far as Janet fell — from #365 and #355 in 1948 to #652 and #48 in 1991.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Therese were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 32 years, from 1948 to 1991, ending at #652 and #48.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Janet #86 in 1966, Therese #98 in 1965.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1964–2012
Janet held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Therese in 20.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Therese #98 in 1965.
The order changed in 2001: Therese moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #378 and #413; by 2001 that had become #498 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Janet #907, Therese #768.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1948–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Therese in 26.
Highest recorded here: Janet #243 in 1963, Therese #22 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Therese #48.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1996–2023
Janet held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Therese #2084 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Janet #2346, Therese #4709.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1956–1965
Janet held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Janet #42 in 1956, Therese #73 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Janet #82, Therese #90.
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 | Therese |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | Norway · Girls #487 (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 has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Therese.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Therese
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in Norway, in 1986 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #487 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls