Jennifer vs Judith
Jennifer and Judithcompared 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 1969, Jennifer was ranked #7 and Judith #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1970, Jennifer was ranked #30 and Judith #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Jennifer was ranked #162 and Judith #294 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #338 and Judith #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2017, Jennifer was ranked #535 and Judith #492 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Judith #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Judith over time
Jennifer and Judith appear together in 6 published lists, across 173 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Judith 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.
Judith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jennifer 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 1953, Jennifer moved ahead of Judith in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #5 and #4 the year before became #3 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Judith changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2017, ending at #535 and #492.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Judith were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Judith #717 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1964–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Judith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Judith #127 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #338, Judith #905.
Norway · Girls47 shared years, 1946–2017
Jennifer held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Judith in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Judith #119 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jennifer #535, Judith #492.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Judith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Judith #717 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Judith #1362.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1969
Jennifer held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Judith in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #1 in 1956, Judith #4 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #5 and #4; by 1953 that had become #3 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Jennifer #7, Judith #82.
New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1954–1970
Jennifer held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Judith in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1957, Judith #4 in 1954.
The order changed in 1957: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #6 and #4; by 1957 that had become #4 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Jennifer #30, Judith #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2006
Jennifer held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Judith in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Judith #147 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Jennifer #162, Judith #294.
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 | Jennifer | Judith |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1362 (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); Judith does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Judith.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Judith doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, 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
Judith
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #113 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls