Jennifer vs Tabitha
Jennifer and Tabithacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #483 and Tabitha #279 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Jennifer was ranked #361 and Tabitha #361 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #384 and Tabitha #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jennifer was ranked #413 and Tabitha #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Jennifer and Tabitha over time
Jennifer and Tabitha appear together in 3 published lists, across 61 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tabitha in 0.
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, Tabitha 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 2012, Tabitha moved ahead of Jennifer in England and Wales · Girls — #175 and #177 the year before became #196 and #181.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #34 in 2002, Tabitha #606 in 2001.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jennifer held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Tabitha in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Tabitha #177 in 2011.
The order changed in 2012: Tabitha moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #175 and #177; by 2012 that had become #196 and #181.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jennifer #483, Tabitha #279.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2001–2025
Jennifer held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Tabitha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #34 in 2002, Tabitha #606 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jennifer #413, Tabitha #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1998–2018
Jennifer held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Tabitha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #64 in 2002, Tabitha #283 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Jennifer #361, Tabitha #361.
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 | Tabitha |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (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); Tabitha does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer and Tabitha both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; Tabitha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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
Tabitha
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #282 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #177 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls