Lena vs Nellie
Lena and Nelliecompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #288 and Nellie #101 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #207 and Nellie #230 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #294 and Nellie #235 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lena was ranked #288 and Nellie #253 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lena was ranked #266 and Nellie #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Lena and Nellie over time
Lena and Nellie appear together in 3 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Lena held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nellie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lena reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Nellie 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 2019, Nellie moved ahead of Lena in England and Wales · Girls — #154 and #180 the year before became #169 and #114.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nellie in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lena #128 in 2013, Nellie #93 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Nellie moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #154 and #180; by 2019 that had become #169 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #288, Nellie #101.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 2007–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Nellie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Lena #85 in 2014, Nellie #148 in 2019.
The order changed in 2023: Nellie moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #184 and #312; by 2023 that had become #189 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #294, Nellie #235.
Republic of Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1964–2025
Lena held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Nellie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Lena #71 in 2012, Nellie #232 in 2024.
The order changed in 2025: Lena moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #232 and #232; by 2025 that had become #266 and #304.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lena #266, Nellie #304.
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 | Nellie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #266 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #101 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Nellie does not have one recorded yet.
- Lena and Nellie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lena; Nellie 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
Nellie
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #101 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls