Lorraine vs Louise
Lorraine and Louisecompared 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 1966, Lorraine was ranked #82 and Louise #27 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Lorraine was ranked #89 and Louise #46 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Lorraine was ranked #301 and Louise #50 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Lorraine was ranked #896 and Louise #211 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lorraine was ranked #2115 and Louise #952 among girls in England and Wales.
Lorraine and Louise over time
Lorraine and Louise appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Louise held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lorraine in 1.
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.
Lorraine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Louise 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 1958, Louise moved ahead of Lorraine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #38 and #44 the year before became #50 and #38.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lorraine and Louise changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #896 and #211.
- Longest-running competitions
Lorraine and Louise were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #211.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lorraine #661 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #47 and #54 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #211.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2018
Lorraine held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Louise in 39.
Highest recorded here: Lorraine #14 in 1979, Louise #5 in 1980.
The order changed in 1980: Louise moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #14 and #16; by 1980 that had become #18 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Lorraine #896, Louise #211.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lorraine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Louise in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lorraine #661 in 1996, Louise #44 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lorraine #2115, Louise #952.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1966
Lorraine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Louise in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lorraine #27 in 1952, Louise #25 in 1964.
The order changed in 1958: Louise moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #38 and #44; by 1958 that had become #50 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Lorraine #82, Louise #27.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Lorraine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Louise in 4.
Highest recorded here: Lorraine #26 in 1954, Louise #46 in 1965.
The order changed in 1962: Louise moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #55 and #63; by 1962 that had become #71 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Lorraine #89, Louise #46.
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 | Lorraine | Louise |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /lu.ˈiz/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) | Norway · Girls #59 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Louise has a recorded origin (Germanic, via French transmission); Lorraine does not have one recorded yet.
- Lorraine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Louise.
- A meaning is recorded for Louise; Lorraine 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
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #59 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls