Namewise

Laura vs Rachael

Laura and Rachaelcompared 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 1994, Laura was ranked #13 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2001, Laura was ranked #29 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Laura was ranked #91 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Laura was ranked #215 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.

Laura and Rachael over time

Laura and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rachael 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.

Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Laura 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 took the other's place near the top

    In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1981 as Rachael fell out of it to #63, having been #50 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1981, Laura moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #60 and #50 the year before became #35 and #63.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Rachael averaged 38.4 places apart, ending at #29 and #100.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura rose about as far as Rachael fell — from #83 and #55 in 1976 to #29 and #100 in 2001.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Laura and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #3705.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022

    Laura held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Rachael in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Rachael #56 in 1994.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Laura #91, Rachael #747.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Laura held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Rachael #3705.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001

    Laura held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rachael in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Rachael #44 in 1992.

    The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #60 and #50; by 1981 that had become #35 and #63.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Laura #29, Rachael #100.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017

    Laura held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachael in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Rachael #25 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Laura #215, Rachael #432.

  • New Zealand · Girls17 shared years, 1978–1994

    Laura held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Rachael in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1989, Rachael #30 in 1978.

    The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #57 and #41; by 1983 that had become #24 and #39.

    Most recent shared year, 1994: Laura #13, Rachael #91.

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 Laura

Pairs where Laura shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Rachael

Pairs where Rachael shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.

The 2000s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Laura, Rachael
FieldLauraRachael
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFrom Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈlɔɹ.ə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
  • Laura and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Laura; Rachael 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

Laura

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Rachael

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1969–1994

    Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls