Lena vs Madeleine
Lena and Madeleinecompared 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 2019, Lena was ranked #144 and Madeleine #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #207 and Madeleine #295 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #288 and Madeleine #259 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #266 and Madeleine #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #294 and Madeleine #327 among girls in Norway.
Lena and Madeleine over time
Lena and Madeleine appear together in 4 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Madeleine in 1.
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.
Madeleine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lena 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2010, Lena moved ahead of Madeleine in Northern Ireland · Girls — #419 and #309 the year before became #137 and #366.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lena and Madeleine changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #294 and #327.
- Longest-running competitions
Lena and Madeleine were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #288 and #259.
List by list
Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1966–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Madeleine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Lena #23 in 1975, Madeleine #79 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #294, Madeleine #327.
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Madeleine in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lena #71 in 2012, Madeleine #288 in 1966.
The order changed in 2006: Lena moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #523 and #398; by 2006 that had become #303 and #550.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #266, Madeleine #544.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Madeleine in 18.
Highest recorded here: Lena #128 in 2013, Madeleine #64 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #288, Madeleine #259.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 2001–2019
Lena held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Madeleine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Lena #131 in 2012, Madeleine #202 in 2003.
The order changed in 2010: Lena moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #419 and #309; by 2010 that had become #137 and #366.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Lena #144, Madeleine #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.
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 Lena
Pairs where Lena shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Lena
Anna and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #23 and #294.
Anna · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anne vs Lena
Anne and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #294.
Anne · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Astrid vs Lena
Astrid and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #9 and #294.
Astrid · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Elisabeth vs Lena
Elisabeth and Lena were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #171 and #294.
Elisabeth · Lena · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Lena | Madeleine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of names ending in '-lena', such as Helena, Magdalena or Yelena — widely used independently. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈleː.na/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #259 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lena has a recorded origin (Used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German traditions); Madeleine does not have one recorded yet.
- Lena has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Madeleine.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Madeleine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Lena
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #346 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Norway, in 1969 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #288 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Madeleine
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1990–2018
Highest recorded position: #35 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1995 (recorded 1990–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #259 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls