Joanne vs Lorraine
Joanne and Lorrainecompared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Joanne was ranked #5 and Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1966, Joanne was ranked #12 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Joanne was ranked #187 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Joanne was ranked #734 and Lorraine #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Joanne was ranked #2000 and Lorraine #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Joanne and Lorraine over time
Joanne and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Joanne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lorraine in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lorraine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Joanne 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 1957, Joanne moved ahead of Lorraine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #46 and #40 the year before became #30 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joanne and Lorraine changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #734 and #896.
- Longest-running competitions
Joanne and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #734 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Joanne #168 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2018
Joanne held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Lorraine in 32.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #29 in 1979, Lorraine #14 in 1979.
The order changed in 2018: Joanne moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #896 and #896; by 2018 that had become #734 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Joanne #734, Lorraine #896.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joanne held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #168 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joanne #2000, Lorraine #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1966
Joanne held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lorraine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #9 in 1964, Lorraine #27 in 1952.
The order changed in 1957: Joanne moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #46 and #40; by 1957 that had become #30 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Joanne #12, Lorraine #82.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Joanne held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lorraine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #5 in 1965, Lorraine #26 in 1954.
The order changed in 1957: Joanne moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #51 and #36; by 1957 that had become #35 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Joanne #5, Lorraine #89.
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 | Joanne | Lorraine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant of Joan/Johanne, ultimately from the same Hebrew-via-Greek-via-Old-French tradition as John (Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') — sometimes also read as a blend of Jo and Anne. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒoʊ.ˈæn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joanne has a recorded origin (English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes); Lorraine does not have one recorded yet.
- Joanne has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
- A meaning is recorded for Joanne; Lorraine 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
Joanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls