Jennifer vs Joanna
Jennifer and Joannacompared 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 1982, Jennifer was ranked #18 and Joanna #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1992, Jennifer was ranked #62 and Joanna #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Joanna #305 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Joanna #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Joanna #384 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Jennifer was ranked #535 and Joanna #403 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Joanna #514 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Joanna over time
Jennifer and Joanna appear together in 5 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joanna in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Joanna changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1968 and 1992, ending at #62 and #98.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Jennifer and Joanna averaged 26.5 places apart, ending at #62 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Joanna were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #514.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Joanna #125 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Joanna in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Joanna #104 in 1982.
The order changed in 2025: Joanna moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #504; by 2025 that had become #413 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Joanna #352.
Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1963–2017
Jennifer held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Joanna in 33.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #192 in 1985, Joanna #93 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jennifer #535, Joanna #403.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joanna in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Joanna #125 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Joanna moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #483 and #488; by 2025 that had become #650 and #514.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Joanna #514.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1968–1992
Jennifer held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Joanna in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #15 in 1981, Joanna #29 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jennifer #62, Joanna #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Joanna in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Joanna #111 in 2000.
The order changed in 2016: Joanna moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #269 and #426; by 2016 that had become #353 and #276.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Joanna #305.
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 Jennifer
Pairs where Jennifer shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #2788.
Jennifer · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Jennifer
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #54 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #650.
Amelia · Jennifer · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Ella
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #56 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #46.
Jennifer · Ella · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jennifer | Joanna |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Joanna does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Joanna.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Joanna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #650 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Joanna
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #432 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–1992
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1968–1992).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #514 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls