Laura vs Stacey
Laura 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Laura was ranked #9 and Stacey #97 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1993, Laura was ranked #10 and Stacey #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Laura was ranked #98 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #105 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Stacey #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Laura and Stacey over time
Laura and Stacey appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Laura 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 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 Stacey fell out of it to #54, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Laura moved ahead of Stacey in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #60 and #46 the year before became #35 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Stacey were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1977–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Stacey #39 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #105, Stacey #898.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Stacey #97 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Stacey #2138.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1978–1996
Laura held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stacey in 7.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Stacey #15 in 1984.
The order changed in 1985: Laura moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #19 and #15; by 1985 that had become #13 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Laura #9, Stacey #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1977–1993
Laura held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Stacey in 4.
Highest recorded here: Laura #10 in 1992, Stacey #34 in 1985.
The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #60 and #46; by 1981 that had become #35 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Laura #10, Stacey #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2012
Laura held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Stacey #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Laura #98, 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 | Laura | Stacey |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From 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 |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2138 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Stacey does not have one recorded yet.
- Laura and Stacey both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
Laura
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 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