Jennifer vs Niamh
Jennifer and Niamhcompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Jennifer was ranked #354 and Niamh #26 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Niamh #76 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Niamh #90 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Niamh #208 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Niamh over time
Jennifer and Niamh appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jennifer 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.
Jennifer reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Niamh 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 1999, Niamh moved ahead of Jennifer in England and Wales · Girls — #62 and #66 the year before became #76 and #47.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Niamh changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #413 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Niamh were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #650 and #208.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Niamh in 40.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Niamh #2 in 1993.
The order changed in 1988: Niamh moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #8 and #11; by 1988 that had become #9 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Niamh #90.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Niamh in 27.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Niamh #40 in 2000.
The order changed in 1999: Niamh moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #62 and #66; by 1999 that had become #76 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Niamh #208.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2022
Jennifer held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Niamh in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Niamh #5 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jennifer #354, Niamh #26.
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 | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Irish (mythological) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Neve, Níam |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Jennifer is recorded with a Welsh, via Cornish transmission origin, while Niamh is recorded with a Irish (mythological) origin.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Niamh.
- Jennifer's recorded meaning differs from Niamh's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jennifer a "medium" Data Confidence level and Niamh a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls