Janice vs Shirley
Janice 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, Janice was ranked #79 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Janice was ranked #91 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Janice was ranked #498 and Shirley #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Janice was ranked #2138 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Janice and Shirley over time
Janice and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Janice held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shirley in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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, Shirley moved ahead of Janice in New Zealand · Girls — #72 and #78 the year before became #85 and #73.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janice and Shirley changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2138 and #4201.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Janice and Shirley averaged 57.0 places apart, ending at #498 and #380.
- Longest-running competitions
Janice and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 35 years, from 1964 to 1998, ending at #498 and #380.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Janice #31 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls35 shared years, 1964–1998
Janice held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Shirley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Janice #117 in 1980, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Janice #498, Shirley #380.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Janice held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shirley in 9.
Highest recorded here: Janice #1364 in 1996, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order changed in 2021: Janice moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #4535 and #2843; by 2021 that had become #3961 and #5581.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Janice #2138, Shirley #4201.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Janice held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shirley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Janice #22 in 1955, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order changed in 1963: Shirley moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #72 and #78; by 1963 that had become #85 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Janice #91, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Janice held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Janice #31 in 1953, Shirley #48 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Janice #79, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Janice | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janice has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shirley.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Janice
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #32 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: #22 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 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