Laura vs Therese
Laura and Theresecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Laura was ranked #48 and Therese #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #141 and Therese #487 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Laura was ranked #157 and Therese #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Laura was ranked #233 and Therese #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Laura and Therese over time
Laura and Therese appear together in 4 published lists, across 150 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Therese in 1.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1966, Laura moved ahead of Therese in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #122 and #98 the year before became #81 and #119.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Therese were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 65 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #141 and #487.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #131 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #48 and #896.
List by list
Norway · Girls65 shared years, 1946–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Therese in 43.
Highest recorded here: Laura #99 in 2024, Therese #21 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #141, Therese #487.
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2015
Laura held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Therese in 2.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Therese #98 in 1965.
The order changed in 1966: Laura moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #122 and #98; by 1966 that had become #81 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Laura #48, Therese #896.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1996–2023
Laura held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Therese #2084 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Laura #233, Therese #4709.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2019
Laura held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Therese #206 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Laura #157, Therese #424.
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 | Therese |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Norway · Girls #487 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Therese does not have one recorded yet.
- Laura has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Therese.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; Therese doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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 #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Therese
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in Norway, in 1986 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #487 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls