Lillian vs Pauline
Lillian and Paulinecompared 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 2018, Lillian was ranked #244 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Lillian was ranked #268 and Pauline #395 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lillian was ranked #309 and Pauline #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Lillian and Pauline over time
Lillian and Pauline appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Lillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Pauline 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.
Pauline reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Lillian 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lillian and Pauline changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2023, ending at #268 and #395.
- Longest-running competitions
Lillian and Pauline were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 46 years, from 1946 to 2023, ending at #268 and #395.
List by list
Norway · Girls46 shared years, 1946–2023
Lillian held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Pauline in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lillian #41 in 1946, Pauline #242 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lillian #268, Pauline #395.
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2018
Lillian held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Pauline in 30.
Highest recorded here: Lillian #236 in 2016, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order changed in 2008: Lillian moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #414 and #414; by 2008 that had become #251 and #665.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Lillian #244, Pauline #896.
England and Wales · Girls27 shared years, 1996–2024
Lillian held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lillian #274 in 2017, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lillian #309, Pauline #4843.
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 Pauline
Pairs where Pauline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elizabeth vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #91 and #896.
Elizabeth · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #2 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2018 they were #124 and #896.
Catherine · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Margaret vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2018 they were #150 and #896.
Margaret · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2018 they were #188 and #896.
Bridget · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Lillian | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #295 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lillian has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Pauline.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Lillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #40 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: #40 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #295 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls