Jennifer vs Pauline
Jennifer and Paulinecompared 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 1966, Jennifer was ranked #6 and Pauline #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Jennifer was ranked #31 and Pauline #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Jennifer was ranked #244 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Jennifer was ranked #493 and Pauline #362 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #650 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Pauline over time
Jennifer and Pauline appear together in 5 published lists, across 144 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Pauline 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.
Pauline reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jennifer in 1. 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 1969, Jennifer moved ahead of Pauline in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #40 and #35 the year before became #33 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Pauline changed places 9 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2020, ending at #493 and #362.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Pauline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 38 years, from 1946 to 2020, ending at #493 and #362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Jennifer held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Pauline in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order changed in 1969: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #40 and #35; by 1969 that had become #33 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Jennifer #244, Pauline #896.
Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1946–2020
Jennifer held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Pauline in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Pauline #242 in 1997.
The order changed in 2017: Pauline moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #405 and #438; by 2017 that had become #535 and #408.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jennifer #493, Pauline #362.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #650, Pauline #4201.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971
Jennifer held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1957, Pauline #31 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Jennifer #31, Pauline #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966
Jennifer held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #1 in 1956, Pauline #52 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Jennifer #6, Pauline #86.
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 | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Pauline does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer and Pauline both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Pauline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, 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
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls