Natalie vs Nicole
Natalie and Nicolecompared 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 2002, Natalie was ranked #42 and Nicole #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2004, Natalie was ranked #94 and Nicole #62 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Natalie was ranked #269 and Nicole #448 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Natalie was ranked #350 and Nicole #350 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Natalie was ranked #381 and Nicole #381 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Natalie was ranked #634 and Nicole #412 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Natalie was ranked #541 and Nicole #638 among girls in Scotland.
Natalie and Nicole over time
Natalie and Nicole appear together in 6 published lists, across 238 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Natalie 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.
Natalie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Nicole in 2. 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 1996, Natalie moved ahead of Nicole in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #20 the year before became #28 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Natalie and Nicole changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1969 and 2004, ending at #94 and #62.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Natalie and Nicole averaged 14.7 places apart, ending at #42 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Natalie and Nicole were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #634 and #412.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Natalie #42 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #36 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #412.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Natalie held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Nicole in 40.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #76 in 1992, Nicole #15 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Natalie #381, Nicole #381.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1970–2025
Natalie held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Nicole in 10.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #69 in 2005, Nicole #205 in 2003.
The order changed in 2025: Natalie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #347 and #309; by 2025 that had become #269 and #448.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Natalie #269, Nicole #448.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2002
Natalie held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nicole in 32.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #9 in 1976, Nicole #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1996: Natalie moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #31 and #20; by 1996 that had become #28 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Natalie #42, Nicole #94.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1969–2004
Natalie held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Nicole in 20.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #16 in 1984, Nicole #5 in 1987.
The order changed in 1986: Nicole moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #22 and #31; by 1986 that had become #37 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Natalie #94, Nicole #62.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Natalie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicole in 30.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #42 in 1996, Nicole #36 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Natalie #634, Nicole #412.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2021
Natalie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicole in 21.
Highest recorded here: Natalie #66 in 1997, Nicole #14 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Natalie #350, Nicole #350.
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 | Natalie | Nicole |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From the Roman names Natalis/Natalia, from Latin 'natalis' ('relating to birth, birthday') — connecting the name to Christmas Day as Jesus's traditional birthday. | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Latin | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnæt.ə.li/ | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #269 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Natalie is recorded with a Latin origin, while Nicole is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin.
- Natalie and Nicole both have 3 syllables.
- Natalie's recorded meaning differs from Nicole's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Natalie
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2014
Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1964–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #634 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #412 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls