Jennifer vs Sumaya
Jennifer and Sumayacompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Jennifer was ranked #97 and Sumaya #758 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2020, Jennifer was ranked #493 and Sumaya #366 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #483 and Sumaya #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Sumaya over time
Jennifer and Sumaya appear together in 2 published lists, across 51 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Sumaya 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jennifer held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sumaya in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Sumaya #385 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jennifer #483, Sumaya #1160.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1992–2020
Jennifer held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sumaya in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Sumaya #291 in 2009.
The order changed in 2007: Sumaya moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #445 and #503; by 2007 that had become #452 and #390.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jennifer #493, Sumaya #366.
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 Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #483 and #1819.
Jennifer · Ashleigh · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #483 and #1541.
Jennifer · Gemma · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #483 and #1302.
Jennifer · Kate · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #2 and #483.
Amelia · Jennifer · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jennifer | Sumaya |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Norway · Girls #408 (2024) |
| 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); Sumaya does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sumaya.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Sumaya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
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 #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Sumaya
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #678 among girls in Norway in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1992–2024
Highest recorded position: #291 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1992–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1160 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls