Lisa vs Rachael
Lisa 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Lisa was ranked #100 and Rachael #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Lisa was ranked #74 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Lisa was ranked #363 and Rachael #207 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Lisa was ranked #389 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #661 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Lisa and Rachael over time
Lisa and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachael 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.
Lisa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Rachael 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Rachael moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1993 as Lisa fell out of it to #59, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Rachael moved ahead of Lisa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #44 the year before became #59 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lisa and Rachael changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #389 and #747.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lisa and Rachael averaged 39.5 places apart, ending at #100 and #55.
- Longest-running competitions
Lisa and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #661 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lisa #105 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2022
Lisa held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #3 in 1984, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Lisa #389, Rachael #747.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachael in 12.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #105 in 1996, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Lisa moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #462 and #458; by 2009 that had become #417 and #474.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #661, Rachael #3705.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1970–1997
Lisa held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rachael in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #3 in 1970, Rachael #41 in 1974.
The order changed in 1993: Rachael moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #35 and #44; by 1993 that had become #59 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Lisa #100, Rachael #55.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1969–1994
Lisa held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #1 in 1969, Rachael #25 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Lisa #74, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2011
Lisa held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Rachael in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #63 in 1997, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Lisa #363, Rachael #207.
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 | Lisa | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.sə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #174 (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
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Lisa and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #661 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