Niamh vs Pauline
Niamh 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, Niamh was ranked #59 and Pauline #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Niamh was ranked #208 and Pauline #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Niamh and Pauline over time
Niamh and Pauline appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Pauline in 0.
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, and Niamh 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls, Niamh moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1970 as Pauline fell out of it to #55, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Niamh moved ahead of Pauline in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #43 and #42 the year before became #33 and #55.
- Longest-running competitions
Niamh and Pauline were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #59 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Niamh #40 in 2000, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Niamh held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Pauline in 6.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #2 in 1993, Pauline #12 in 1964.
The order changed in 1970: Niamh moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #43 and #42; by 1970 that had become #33 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Niamh #59, Pauline #896.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Niamh held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Pauline in 0.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #40 in 2000, Pauline #1076 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #208, Pauline #4201.
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 | Niamh | Pauline |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish (mythological) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Neve, Níam | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Pauline does not have one recorded yet.
- Niamh has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Pauline.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Pauline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Niamh a "high" Data Confidence level and Pauline a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls