Leah vs Rachael
Leah 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Leah was ranked #47 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Leah was ranked #50 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Leah was ranked #73 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Leah was ranked #82 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Leah was ranked #183 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Leah and Rachael over time
Leah and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Leah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rachael in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 5 of those lists, and Leah 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 2001, Leah moved ahead of Rachael in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #100 and #45 the year before became #82 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Leah and Rachael averaged 21.7 places apart, ending at #82 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Leah and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #183 and #3705.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #35 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2017 they were #47 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1966–2022
Leah held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rachael in 24.
Highest recorded here: Leah #9 in 2004, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order changed in 1995: Leah moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #66 and #56; by 1995 that had become #57 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Leah #50, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Leah #24 in 2002, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leah #183, Rachael #3705.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1971–2001
Leah held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Rachael in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leah #47 in 1983, Rachael #41 in 1974.
The order changed in 2001: Leah moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #100 and #45; by 2001 that had become #82 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Leah #82, Rachael #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Leah held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Leah #10 in 2005, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Leah moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #35 and #25; by 1998 that had become #30 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Leah #47, Rachael #432.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 1976–1994
Leah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rachael in 7.
Highest recorded here: Leah #73 in 1994, Rachael #32 in 1976.
The order changed in 1993: Leah moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #88 and #79; by 1993 that had become #83 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Leah #73, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Leah | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Likely derives from a Hebrew word meaning 'weary, grieved'; an alternative theory suggests a connection to Akkadian 'littu' ('cow'). In the Old Testament, Leah was Jacob's first wife. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 | Norway · Girls #12 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Leah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, etymology disputed); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Leah has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Rachael.
- A meaning is recorded for Leah; 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
Leah
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #310 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #183 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Rachael
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls