Nicole vs Phyllis
Nicole and Phylliscompared 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 1990, Nicole was ranked #53 and Phyllis #517 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nicole was ranked #328 and Phyllis #5891 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicole and Phyllis over time
Nicole and Phyllis appear together in 2 published lists, across 34 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Phyllis 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.
Phyllis reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Nicole 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Nicole rose about as far as Phyllis fell — from #372 and #327 in 1964 to #53 and #517 in 1990.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicole #45 in 2001, Phyllis #3262 in 2001.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1964–1990
Nicole held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Phyllis in 6.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #53 in 1990, Phyllis #226 in 1966.
The order changed in 1982: Nicole moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #386 and #363; by 1982 that had become #201 and #523.
Most recent shared year, 1990: Nicole #53, Phyllis #517.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2001–2024
Nicole held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Phyllis in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #45 in 2001, Phyllis #3262 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicole #328, Phyllis #5891.
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 | Nicole | Phyllis |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicole has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Phyllis does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicole has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Phyllis.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicole; Phyllis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
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 #448 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Phyllis
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #327 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 recorded1964–1990
Highest recorded position: #226 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–1990).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls