Jessica vs Stacey
Jessica and Staceycompared 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 1993, Jessica was ranked #1 and Stacey #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Jessica was ranked #1 and Stacey #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Jessica was ranked #5 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jessica was ranked #117 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #139 and Stacey #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Jessica and Stacey over time
Jessica and Stacey appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Jessica held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stacey 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.
Stacey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jessica 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 1979, Jessica moved ahead of Stacey in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #72 and #60 the year before became #36 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Jessica and Stacey averaged 29.5 places apart, ending at #1 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Jessica rose about as far as Stacey fell — from #65 and #38 in 1977 to #1 and #97 in 1996.
- Longest-running competitions
Jessica and Stacey were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #139 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Jessica #1 in 1984, Stacey #34 in 1985.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1977–2024
Jessica held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #12 in 1995, Stacey #39 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jessica #117, Stacey #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 2005, Stacey #97 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #139, Stacey #2138.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1977–1996
Jessica held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Stacey in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1990, Stacey #15 in 1984.
The order changed in 1978: Jessica moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #65 and #38; by 1978 that had become #26 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Jessica #1, Stacey #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1977–1993
Jessica held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stacey in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1984, Stacey #34 in 1985.
The order changed in 1979: Jessica moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #72 and #60; by 1979 that had become #36 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Jessica #1, Stacey #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2012
Jessica held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #5 in 2012, Stacey #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Jessica #5, Stacey #451.
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 | Jessica | Stacey |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #139 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jessica has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage); Stacey does not have one recorded yet.
- Jessica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stacey.
- A meaning is recorded for Jessica; Stacey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jessica
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #471 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Stacey
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #99 among girls in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1973–1996
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1973–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls