Namewise

Jennifer vs Madison

Jennifer and Madisoncompared 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #84 and Madison #21 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #88 and Madison #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Madison #135 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Madison #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Madison #152 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #483 and Madison #166 among girls in England and Wales.

Jennifer and Madison over time

Jennifer and Madison appear together in 5 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Madison held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jennifer in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Madison 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Madison moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1995 as Jennifer fell out of it to #77, having been #45 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2003, Madison moved ahead of Jennifer in England and Wales · Girls — #74 and #80 the year before became #81 and #72.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Jennifer held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Madison in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Madison #35 in 2007.

    The order changed in 2003: Madison moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #74 and #80; by 2003 that had become #81 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Jennifer #483, Madison #166.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1995–2025

    Jennifer held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Madison in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Jennifer #19 in 1995, Madison #86 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2011: Madison moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #97 and #100; by 2011 that had become #120 and #89.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Madison #148.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022

    Jennifer held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Madison in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Madison #37 in 2006.

    The order changed in 2003: Madison moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #64 and #118; by 2003 that had become #114 and #79.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Madison #152.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls11 shared years, 1993–2003

    Jennifer held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Madison in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Jennifer #44 in 1993, Madison #18 in 2000.

    The order changed in 1995: Madison moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #45 and #59; by 1995 that had become #77 and #37.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #88, Madison #25.

  • New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1994–2003

    Jennifer held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Madison in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Jennifer #66 in 1994, Madison #14 in 2001.

    The order changed in 1995: Madison moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #66 and #90; by 1995 that had become #82 and #61.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #84, Madison #21.

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.

Other comparisons involving Madison

Pairs where Madison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Jennifer, Madison
FieldJenniferMadison
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFrom 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
OriginWelsh, via Cornish transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/Not yet recorded
Syllables33
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Madison does not have one recorded yet.
  • Jennifer and Madison both have 3 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Madison doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Jennifer

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2003

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Madison

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1993

    First recorded at #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1994–2023

    Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1994–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #148 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls